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Investigations Begin into Cause of Train Wreck
March 26, 2008

Investigators are looking for answers into how a freight car came unhinged while parked on a siding and rolled onto the tracks causing what could have been a very tragic accident. The only reason passengers on the MBTA commuter rail didn't suffer even more severe injuries or fatalities was the quick thinking and action of the engineer who was alerted to the presence of another car on the tracks.

No one knows how the freight car became unhinged and began to roll, but at some point it appears that the boxcar, which was loaded with lumber and sitting on a rail siding off track, became loose and began to roll down and onto the passenger rail track on which the commuter train was traveling. An engineer was alerted by a track signal that there was something else on the track and heading towards the train. He immediately bought the train to a halt. He then got passengers who were seated just behind the engine and who would suffer the most from the impact of the crash to move from their seats. A few moments later, the boxcar hit the train.

As many as 150 people have been reported injured from the impact of the crash, although it's entirely possible that there were many more. Many of the injuries had to do with broken noses, gashes on heads, broken wrists and neck sprains, and some of the injuries reported were very serious. The number of "walking wounded" is also expected to be quite high, as many passengers might probably have preferred to go straight to the comfort of home instead of reporting their injuries.

All seem to agree that the accident could have been much worse had the engineer not acted as he did.

The immediate aftermath of the accident was traumatic according to many of the passengers. There was panic, and many of the passengers tried to smash open windows to make their way out. The crash also sparked off a bush fire right outside the doors and this bought smoke right in to the train. This obviously caused even more panic as people tried to battle the flames outside the car.

It safe to assume that the boxcar, loaded with heavy lumber, did not magically decide to roll its way down a passenger rail track. Negligence is plain to see in this case. Obviously, safety precautions were not followed when the boxcar was placed on the siding. In other words, there was definitely someone to blame for a freight car loaded with lumber breaking loose.

In the coming days we are sure to find out more about this accident as more details emerge and more passengers come forward to recount their side of the story. In the meantime, passengers who have suffered severe physical and emotional trauma are entitled to compensation for their injuries.

If you have been injured in a train wreck, you need the help of an experienced California personal injury attorney. Contact a lawyer at The Reeves Law Group for a free consultation.

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Human Errors caused Fatal Train Crash
March 20, 2008

A train dispatcher who was too busy elsewhere to provide signaling, a crew that didn't see it fit to use a signal device on the track to warn trains, and an engineer who was flying high on marijuana - these are apparently the sort of "human errors" that caused the death of two workers during the collision of a company train and a maintenance truck in Woburn, Massachusetts last year.

According to a report by the National Transportation Safety Board, these costly human errors were responsible for the crash. The accident occurred on January 9, 2007, the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority train 322 was traveling southbound, when an engineer received the all clear as he passed a curve in the tracks. The speed of the train at that point in time was 62 miles per hour. Right ahead was a track maintenance vehicle. The engineer apparently slammed on the brakes and managed to reduce the speed somewhat, but the train crashed into the vehicle at 44 miles an hour.

The engineer, James Zipps, and a maintenance worker, Christopher Macaulay, who were inside the truck died. Two other maintenance workers, John Hickey and Edwin Olsen, were injured seriously. Blood tests later revealed that Zipps had been under the influence of marijuana.

The National Transportation Safety Board, which conducted an investigation into the accident, had revealed a number of mistakes that occurred though out the process. Almost all these mistakes were overwhelming in the amount of negligence they showed, and we have the foresight of the train driver to thank that the number of casualties was not greater. At least 10 passengers were injured, however.

According to police and emergency workers, who first arrived at the scene after the crash, it resembled a war zone. There was wreckage lying all around and helicopters flying overhead. The passengers on the train and the maintenance workers who survived had their good fortune to thank that their injuries were not life-threatening. In all there were 43 passengers on the train.

The workers had reportedly been working on the track since about 9:45 am that day. Other trains that were scheduled to pass through the area had all been diverted onto other tracks. At the time of the crash, it was matter of amazement as to why the train was allowed to remain on track. Now we know the reason. There was negligence on all levels.

The track dispatcher had removed the block on the track segment where it had been placed to warn incoming trains. This cleared the way for the train to rush right into the track segment. There was also a shunting device that's to ensure that signals remain red, no matter whether the dispatcher performed his duty. Surprisingly, even this was not followed according to procedure. Then we have the frightening instance of a track maintenance engineer being under the influence of drugs while on duty. There was obviously more than a little clouding of judgment in his case.

If these are the kinds of maintenance and safety standards being practiced, we need to be very concerned about the safety of passengers on commuter trains.

If you have been injured in a train accident, you need the help of an experienced California personal injury lawyer. Contact an attorney at The Reeves Law Group for a free consultation.

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