There were approximately 25 people injured. None of them sustained life-threatening injuries, county emergency management staff said.

The collision occurred at the Highway 301 and Highway 903 rail crossing when the train headed to New York struck the rig's trailer, witnesses said.

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“I got to witness a miracle,” said Melissa Carter of Roanoke Rapids, who, with her husband Jamie, watched the collision occur. “I got to watch God's work. This could have been fatal on so many levels.”

Mrs. Carter, who with her husband was going to the county tax office, said they watched as the truck driver struggled to get the trailer over the rail-crossing.

Another man tried to help direct traffic so the driver could get the trailer across as the Amtrak train made its way northbound down the track.

The train struck the truck's trailer, a wide-load carrier, while the truck's driver made it safely across. The truck driver declined comment.

“It sounded like a bomb going off,” Mr. Carter, a veteran, said. “It shook the ground. I've heard SCUD missiles going off, I've heard bombs go off. Nothing I've heard compared to that. It shows you life is short. You never know what will happen next.”

Mrs. Carter said she believed divine intervention played a part in a collision where no one died. “I just watched God pull that truck apart and derail a trail.”

Mr. Carter said he and his wife were on Highway 301 and watched as the tractor-trailer attempted to make the turn. The driver backed up to make a wider turn.

That's when the crossing arm came down. “He did everything to get away from it,” Mr. Carter said. “God had a hand in this. There were no fatalities. The tractor-trailer driver did everything to get away from it. It was just the speed and the weight. It was nothing he could do.”

Mr. Carter said the train hit around the center of trailer. He helped state Highway Patrol troopers pull the conductor from the train.

Troopers at the scene gave a similar version of what the Carters saw. They continue to investigate.

Halifax County Sheriff Tripp said it appeared the heavy equipment the truck was carrying got stuck on the track.

He said the injuries sustained did not appear to be life-threatening and a triage was set up.

Halifax County Schools activity busses were shuttling the train passengers to county agricultural building.

One passenger boarding a bus declined to comment and another said she was sleeping at the time and awoke on impact.