The incident happened at about 2:33 a.m., according to the Harris County Sheriff's Office.
Deputies responded to the crash on Root Road near Dowdell Road. Authorities said the 18-wheeler truck was towing an empty liquid natural gas trailer when it got stuck on the raised crossing on Hilderbrandt Road, which had recently been repaved.
The collision caused Hildebrandt Road to be closed for hours, but it was reopened at about 7:30 a.m.
Three schools near the incident impacted by traffic delays are Northampton Elementary, Hildebrandt Intermediate School, and Klein Oak High School.
A spokesperson with the trucking company said new asphalt was recently laid on both sides of the tracks, possibly at the wrong incline.
According to the company, the truck driver was stuck on the tracks for about 15 minutes before being hit by the train.
The train was 8,000 feet long with 138 cars.
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