B757 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Situational Awareness
Conflict Ground Conflict; Critical
Flight Crew Rejected Takeoff
Human Factors
Once arriving [at Runway] XL; we held short for approximately 5 minutes awaiting final weights. It was First Officer's leg to fly so upon Line up and Wait clearance and verifying Runway XL he stated engage LNAV and I brought the aircraft into position and set parking brake. Waited for a couple of departures off [Runway] XR and an arrival or two then takeoff clearance was issued. First Officer advanced throttles and called for autothrottles; Check thrust; Thrust set. All was going well. The 100 KTS call was made; after the call my eyes went outside and then back down for another scan before the V1-5 call. At that point; the First Officer stated; 'Truck; that's a truck'; eyes up and sure enough truck on XL I'm guessing 2;000 to 2;500 feet down away. The First Officer immediately retarded both throttles and initiated abort at which time I assumed control and with RTO engaged the event was over as far as hitting the truck was concerned seems like almost immediately. I do remember saying over Comm 1 as I took control; 'Truck on the runway;' without identifying the flight number or runway. Somehow the Controller figured it out and said; 'Who's the truck on XL?' A very scared driver stated; 'I'm sorry; I'm sorry.' Well before getting anywhere close to the truck; the driver exited the runway as we passed behind it. The truck entered XL between XYL and XYR West to East. We proceeded down XL and exited left on C Taxiway. As we exited XL; we established with Ground a good point to hold and the First Officer proceeded with the QRH to run the Rejected Takeoff checklist. I then got on the PA and had longer announcement to passengers briefly explaining our situation and asking for their patience.
Typical normal work day for an early departure. Normal preflight except for a slight delay for a maintenance issue that was resolved. Normal SOP push back and taxi out. Then the event occurred during the takeoff on Runway XL which I will now describe. It was my turn to fly so after take off clearance I initiated the takeoff. Shortly after the 100 KTS call by the Captain; I saw a yellow pickup truck speed onto our runway from left to right at about the intersection of the crossing runway. The truck came to an abrupt stop right in the middle of our runway. I then called out; 'Truck; that's a truck'; and initiated the abort and then the Captain quickly assumed control of aircraft. The truck then made a U turn and exited the runway to the left. The aircraft was well under control and slowed well before reaching the area where the truck entered the runway. We passed the truck on our left and exited runway to the left onto C Taxiway. We ran the Rejected Take off checklist and Brake Cooling checklist. We made announcements to the passengers and flight attendants. After referring to the Brake Cooling checklist we decided to return to gate. At gate the aircraft was chocked with the brakes released.
Air carrier described an aborted take off when observing a truck entering the departure runway; the incident apparently a runway incursion by an airport vehicle.