Truck driver charged in Baltimore Train crash/Derailment

[frogpipe]

http://bcobreakingnews.com/truck-driver-charged-in-rosedale-train-derailment/

• Failure to stop at a railroad crossing when required
• Failure to stop a vehicle 15 to 50 feet from the nearest railroad crossing rail
• Failure to stop, look and listen at a railroad crossing
• Proceeding across a railroad crossing when unsafe
• Failure of a commercial vehicle to slow down, stop and clear a railroad crossing
• Failure to use a seatbelt
• Negligent driving

Undoubtedly this will also open him up to civil suits from Norfolk Southern and the surrounding companies and home owners who were affected by the accident.

 

[cascaderailroad]

That certainly was a spectacularly loud explosion 5:00 min after the derailment ... sounded like a bomb went off !
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=50147930n
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qYzSaFxvy8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qanOdP6oaMw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0GgQpO5u8U
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gow2fdrcpJw"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xf3WKTwHpIU

 

[frogpipe]

Yeah, I saw the footage at the time.

I was born in raised in Baltimore, and I know the area well - not that specific crossing as it is in an industrial park - but I know the neighborhood.

I'm glad they pressed charges, the footage clearly showed pure negligence on the truck drivers part. Even if the locomotive hadn't sounded it's horn, which it did, the truck driver is clearly guilty.

 

[backyard]

The driver's insurance company could sue the railroad for not maintaining the crossing due to vegetation encrochment. Some states have laws reguarding this.

 

[frogpipe]

Did you see the film? There's no signalling, just crossbucks and stop sign, and the truck driver didn't even slow down as he blew thru the crossing. Further, it's a private crossing so as I understand it, it's NOT NS' responsibility to maintain it.

 

[JCitron]

I saw the footage as well. He didn't even stop at the stop sign. This seems to be the latest thing in my area as well. Stop signs, yields and red lights are for the rest of us and not them.

John

 

[frogpipe]

Latest I heard was that he claimed that he came to a full stop at the crossing before proceeding, and that he never heard a horn blow.

I haven't seen the "dash cam" footage from the train surface, but it's been commented on that the horn was blown per the rules - as for him stopping, well that's covered too.