Texas High School Band Trailer Hit by Train on Way to Contest
As my driving school instructor once told our class, "If you stall out on train tracks, that's about as bad of luck as you can have. Don't do anything important for the rest of the day."
The Vandegrift High School Marching Band had a pretty wild day on their way to the state competition in San Antonio. Their equipment trailer was hit by a Union Pacific train at a crossing on Carolina Street and Hoefgen Avenue. The crash messed up the front of the truck, but somehow most of the instruments made it out okay.
Train Hits Texas High School Band Trailer Before Competition
After hearing about what happened, other Texas schools quickly stepped in to help. They loaned instruments and gear so Vandegrift could still perform that night at the UIL State Marching Band Competition in the Alamodome.
Man, that's just how we do it here in Texas. I used to compete in pole vaulting in track in high school, and those poles broke all the time. Anytime that happened, the other schools would just loan you their poles. It was really, really nice!
READ NEXT: Texas House Demolished by Local Fire Department
Even after all that chaos, the band didn’t just perform; they actually crushed it, taking home the bronze medal.
Check out the video below:
10 'Old Sayings' That Still Help Predict Texas Weather
Five Things You Might Forget That Raise Your Texas Electric Bill
Here are the Best Steakhouses in Texas in 2025
Gallery Credit: Billy Jenkins
