the locomotive had struck some object on the track and lurched over the tracks , gouged its juggernaut way through about twenty yards of earth before pitching over on its right side and flinging over the rest of the attached cars , then raked them , screeching and bouncing over the gravel spread dirt until its own weight had stopped it suddenly and the lighter cars behind , still moving by their own inertia , had telescoped into a jagged , murderous heap .