Emergency workers respond to a collision involving a CSX train and an 18-wheeler.

Hartselle Police Chief Ron Puckett was pressed into duty as a traffic cop for more than an hour early Tuesday morning after a CSX freight train collided with an 18-wheeler that was stuck on the tracks at the College Street crossing,

The collision occurred at 7:18 a.m. as streets were flooded with work and school traffic, a larger portion of which was going to and from F.E. Burleson Elementary School and Hartselle High School on Bethel Road.

“All of the RR grade crossings were shut down,” said Puckett. “That meant the only way for traffic to move east and west was the overhead bridge on Longhorn Pass and Georgia Street and the grade crossing on Tabernacle Road.”

Puckett directed traffic at the Sparkman Street and Longhorn Pass intersection while third and first shift officers, including Capt. Tom Sparks, worked at other busy intersections when traffic was at its peak.

“It was a mess and something with which we’ve never had to deal,” Puckett pointed out. “However, the positive side of it is that no one got hurt, we had no traffic-related accidents and motorists as a whole were on their best behavior.”

Puckett said the 18-wheeler, which was moving west on College Street remained upright and sustained only minor damage. It was towed from the scene at 10:10 a.m., allowing the train to continue its northbound route.

As a precaution, Hartselle Fire and Rescue down loaded a small fuel tank, which was attached to the front of the refrigerated tandem trailer.