MONROE COUNTY, GEORGIA — Cleanup crews worked through Wednesday and into the night after a Norfolk Southern train derailed near Juliette following a pre-dawn collision with a semi-truck driven by an unlicensed Florida driver who was also found with marijuana. Four railcars derailed — down from an initial estimate of seven — and one briefly came to rest on a nearby propane tank before both were safely removed.
What Happened
Shortly before 3:30 a.m. on May 6, a tractor-trailer driven by Kheino Bennett, 44, of Riviera Beach, Florida, struck a Norfolk Southern train at a railroad crossing on Highway 83 North at Berner Loop in Macon County. Bennett told deputies he saw the crossing arm down and the lights flashing but realized too late he could not stop in time. He applied his brakes and steered to avoid the train, causing the truck to overturn and strike one of the train cars. The impact caused four railcars to derail, bringing the train to a stop in the area of Juliette Road and McCrackin Street.
Bennett was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana, possession of drug-related objects, and operating a commercial motor vehicle without a valid license.
What Was on the Train
Norfolk Southern said the derailed cars were carrying intermodal freight with packaged goods. One railcar contained a small amount of household items classified as flammable, including lithium batteries. The company confirmed the items were not damaged and did not pose a risk to the public. A railcar briefly came to rest on a nearby propane tank, but both were safely removed without incident.
Norfolk Southern said crews spent the day rerailing cars and clearing the tracks and will continue working through Wednesday night as cleanup operations and track restoration efforts continue.
Impact on Residents
The derailment disrupted daily life for people living in the area. Derwood McComb, a resident who recently moved nearby, said he woke up with no food, no water, and no power — and found himself unable to get in or out of the area.
“Got no food and no water, no power. I mean, it’s ridiculous,” McComb said. “I’m frustrated. I’m very frustrated because I can’t get out and go do what I need to do.”
McComb said he ended up walking three miles to get to work because access roads were blocked. “I ended up walking the three miles to work just so I could go to work,” he said.
He also expressed disbelief at the circumstances that led to the derailment. “A non-licensed driver driving a semi-truck trying to beat a train — I mean, that’s unreal,” McComb said. He hopes the situation prompts changes to improve access in and out of the area. “I hope they talk to the new owner and find a way to make another entrance so this don’t happen again,” he said.
Highway 83 North at Berner Loop has reopened. Juliette Road at McCrackin Street remains closed and is expected to stay closed for a lengthy period of time. Drivers are advised to use alternate routes.
All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Resident interview courtesy of local media.
📸 Image(s) used under fair use for news reporting.
