The survivors of a fatal Nevada Amtrak train crash are coping with flashbacks
of the fiery big rig highway rail crossing accident that killed six people
and injured around 20 people in the Nevada high desert, according to
The Washington Post. The truck driver was one of those killed in the crash, as was the train
conductor. An investigation into the cause of the accident is ongoing.
The California-bound Amtrak train was halted at a rural highway crossing
about 70 miles east of Reno, when the driver of a 2008 Peterbilt tractor
towing two empty side dump trailers failed to stop at the crossing, crashed
through the warning gates and into one of the ten cars with such force
that it became embedded into the rail car. A fire erupted at the crash
filling the area with smoke and flames. The train engineer, who saw that
the oncoming truck would be unable to stop, immediately applied the emergency
brakes, which, unfortunately, could not stop the 78 mph momentum of the
train before the highway crossing.
National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigators are considering
all factors in determining the cause of the Nevada Amtrak train crash,
including driver fatigue, distracted driving, and alcohol and/or drug
impairment. The truck driver’s cell phone was recovered in the rubble
and will be checked to determine whether the driver was using it at the
time of the crash. Investigators are also inspecting the remains of the
truck’s wheels, tires, and brakes, for any indication of the cause
of the accident.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a Nevada train accident caused
by negligence or defective equipment, a Las Vegas personal injury lawyer
at Shook & Stone can help you seek compensation from at-fault parties to cover
medical costs, time lost from work,
pain and suffering and other losses and damages. Call us today at (888) 662-2013 to learn
more about your legal rights.