Connect with us

American News

Conductor, passenger injured in deadly Amtrak crash sue

Published

on

The train was pushed by a P42DC locomotive, similar to this one. The pushing locomotive was the only part of the train to not derail. (Photo By SounderBruce from Seattle, United States - Amtrak Cascades passing Sounder at Everett Station, CC BY-SA 2.0)

FILE: The train was pushed by a P42DC locomotive, similar to this one. The pushing locomotive was the only part of the train to not derail. (Photo By SounderBruce from Seattle, United States – Amtrak Cascades passing Sounder at Everett Station, CC BY-SA 2.0)

SEATTLE — A conductor injured when a speeding Amtrak train flew off the tracks and onto a Washington state highway last month, killing three and injuring dozens, filed a lawsuit Wednesday claiming the rail company failed to provide a safe work environment.

Garrick Freeman, who was in the front of the train with the engineer at the time of the Dec. 18 crash, suffered multiple broken ribs, a fractured clavicle and serious internal injuries when the train entered a curve too fast near DuPont, Washington, said his lawyer Anthony Petru, who filed the complaint in Pierce County Superior Court.

Another lawsuit was filed Wednesday in King County Superior Court on the behalf of passenger Pennie Cottrell.

Cottrell was aboard when the train entered a sharp curve and derailed, causing Cottrell to suffer multiple broken bones and other injures, according to the complaint.

The train carried 85 passengers and crew members as it made its inaugural run along new 15-mile (24-kilometre) bypass route. Authorities say it was travelling more than double the posted 30 mph (48 kph) speed limit as it entered the curve, causing it to plunge off an overpass and onto a busy interstate.

Federal investigators trying to determine the cause of the wreck say their full investigation could take more than a year.

As a conductor, Freeman of Bellevue, Washington, normally works in the body of the train, but he wanted to familiarize himself with the new route, so was riding in front with the engineer, Petru said. After the crash, Freeman was taken to Harborview Medical Center where he remained until Dec. 30, when he was taken by ambulance to a rehabilitation hospital, where he’s expected to say for about a month.

Freeman’s lawsuit said Amtrak violated the Federal Employers’ Liability Act, which required it to ensure the workplace was free of dangerous conditions. It also said Amtrak failed to train its employees to operate trains safely on the new route.

Amtrak did not immediately respond to a request seeking comment.

Petru said they plan to expand the lawsuit to include all of the public entities involved. The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages.

Cottrell’s lawsuit said Amtrak equipped the train with a Positive Train Control system, which is supposed to help avoid excessive speeds in dangerous situations, but didn’t make the system operable. It provides real-time information to crew members about areas where the train should be slowed and warns the crew about the train’s safe braking distance over reduced-speed areas, the suit said.

“If the engineer does not respond to the ample warnings and on-screen displays, the positive train control system will automatically activate the brakes and safely slow or stop the train,” the suit said. “Amtrak knowingly and intentionally failed to put in place and utilize an operable PTC or similar safety control system,” despite knowing it could prevent derailments, the suit said.

The lawsuit also claimed the engineer lacked the experience and training to operate on that new route.

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Latest

Entertainment8 hours ago

Max Collins, Luis Hontiveros banner “Recipes of Love’’ this Sunday

Max Collins and Luis Hontiveros are set to headline the next story of “Recipes of Love” airing this Sunday (May...

Entertainment8 hours ago

Jessica Soho honored at the Global Filipino Icon Awards

Jessica Soho – widely regarded as the Philippines’ most awarded broadcast journalist – adds another feather in her cap after being...

OpenAI OpenAI
Technology8 hours ago

What OpenAI’s deal with News Corp means for journalism (and for you)

OpenAI, the makers of ChatGPT, and News Corp, the international media conglomerate, have signed a deal that will let OpenAI...

emergency sign on a hospital emergency sign on a hospital
Health8 hours ago

What is a virtual emergency department? And when should you ‘visit’ one?

For many Australians the emergency department (ED) is the physical and emblematic front door to accessing urgent health-care services. But...

Canada News8 hours ago

U of T issues trespass notice to pro-Palestinian encampment

Demonstrators have now been given until Monday at 8 a.m. to leave As it said it would, the University of...

Business and Economy8 hours ago

Alcohol sales coming to Ontario corner stores by September

Accelerated plan includes $225M payment to The Beer Store from province Ontario is introducing sales of beer, wine and ready-made...

Loblaws supermarket Loblaws supermarket
Business and Economy8 hours ago

Loblaws, Sobeys owners under investigation by Competition Bureau for alleged anticompetitive conduct

Commissioner claims grocery giants’ lease agreements designed to restrict other potential tenants Canada’s Competition Bureau has launched investigations into the...

Rishi Sunak Rishi Sunak
News8 hours ago

Why the Conservative MPs standing down at this election are a huge electoral threat to Rishi Sunak

At the last count, 118 MPs have announced they will not contest July’s general election. The vast majority – more...

Former British Finance Minister Rishi Sunak Former British Finance Minister Rishi Sunak
Business and Economy8 hours ago

What the economic data told Rishi Sunak about the best date for a general election

The announcement of July 4 for the UK general election took many by surprise. A key question is why it...

fighting fighting
Health8 hours ago

Does ‘whining’ really make you happier? A therapist gives his verdict

A problem shared is a problem halved. Research by Age UK shows that only 29% of adults share their worries,...

WordPress Ads