KEYETESVILLE, Mo. — A Chariton County judge has ruled that a series of lawsuits by Amtrak employees over the fatal June 2022 derailment of Amtrak’s Southwest Chief may be combined for a single trial, KMIZ-TV reports.
In a Wednesday hearing, the judge said lawyers for Amtrak, BNSF, MS Contracting — owner of the truck involved in the crash — the employees, and passengers who have brought suit can work together to decide which suits can be combined, based on their similarities. They must report back to the judge within 30 days.
More than a dozen suits have been filed, but Wednesday’s discussion centered only on those filed by Amtrak employees.
Four people — three passengers, and the truck driver — died when the Chief hit the truck at a grade crossing and derailed near Mendon, Mo., on June 27, 2022 [see “Southwest Chief was traveling at 87 mph …,” Trains News Wire, June 29, 2022].
KMIZ reports that a federal judge ruled last week that a lawsuit between Amtrak, BNSF, and MS Contracting would be paused until the National Transportation Safety Board’s investigation is completed. The issuance of a final NTSB report can take up to two years.
It would be nice if Operation Lifesaver would reach out to the trucking community.
Do some classes at truck stops and with companies that train drivers.
A little training might go a long way in reducing grade crossing accidents with trucks.
Let’s hope the trucking firm is held maximally accountable. So often truck drivers do whatever they want at crossings. I’ve seen them cross as the arms are coming down in Des Plaines bending the arm forward to breaking and then watching it boomerang into cars on the other side. I’ve seen trucks cross at unofficial crossings all over the suburbs. Truck drivers pretty much do whatever they want. The train cannot swerve and the safety of all relies on the professionalism of truckers. Much of that having disappeared in the past decades.