Sunday, June 26, 2011

Truck Versus Train Accident Leaves Six Dead And Many More Injured

A Nevada trucking company vehicle reportedly crashed through crossing gates and into an Amtrak train on Friday, June 24th.  According to news reports, the the train was en route from Chicago to Emeryville, California when the accident occurred in Churchill County, Nevada.  The train was apparently carrying approximately 200 passengers Friday morning when the big rig plowed into one of its cars, killing the driver and five people on the train, as well as injuring about one hundred others.  A driver working for John Davis Trucking Co. of Battle Mountain was at the wheel of the tractor-trialer combination when the accident occurred.

See the Associate Press/MSNBC report HERE.

According to the news reports, the train was traveling at about 78 miles pert hour when the accident happened.  While it may take weeks, if not months, to determine the crash, initial news reports suggest the crossing gates and signals were operating correctly at the time of the collision.  Since the accident occurred at about 11:25 a.m. and visibility was described as clear, it is easy to imagine that driver inattention or fatigue could have caused this accident.  However, it is also possible the driver had some sort of medical condition that prevented him from reacting to the gates and presence of the train in time to avoid the accident.  Obviously, the faster the big rig was traveling the less time the driver would have had to perceive and react to the situation ahead of him.  There was a report that 320 feet of skids were left by the truck at the scene, but it was not clear if those were skids leading up to the point of impact or those from the big rig being dragged some distance by the speeding train.  In any event, it does not appear the Amtrak train would have had sufficient opportunity to avoid this collision, given its speed and the reported conduct of the truck driver.

Compensation for victims of truck driving accidents, caused by a driver’s negligence, should be an important concern for all Californians.  When a driver operates their vehicle carelessly and strikes a another vehicle, especially one carrying a large number of passengers, they should be held accountable.  An Orange County trial lawyer with experience at handling truck accident cases can make a fair assessment of these claims.  Mr. Ralph has more than 20 years of experience handling personal injury cases, including just this type.  He can be reached at 714-919-4415 for a FREE CONSULTATION.

Have you or a loved one been injured in a truck accident?
  • Nothing in this post is intended to suggest the Law Offices of Paul W. Ralph currently represents anyone involved in the news story above.  This posting should not be construed as legal advice or an opinion on the merit of any particular matter.  A consultation is the best way to obtain an assessment of your potential case.

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