California Train Mishap Injures 20

Photo gives credit to the original owner, 

Diane Tuazon of CBS 47 TV.

At least 20 persons sustained injuries following the truck and train collision that occurred in Central California.

According to news reports, a tractor-trailer truck loaded with cotton seeds failed to yield at a rail crossing signal. Consequently, it crashed with an Amtrak passenger train near the city of Hanford, some 30 miles south of Fresno, Kings County. At least three of the five cars of the passenger train were pushed off the track due to the collision’s impact.

Previous news stories revealed that at least 20 passengers of the train have sustained minor to severe injuries from the incident. Most of the injuries incurred by the passengers were cuts, bumps, bruises, scrapes, and broken bones, according to Kings County Assistant Sheriff Dave Putnam.

Additionally, some of the injured were transported to the Community Regional Medical Center in Fresno while others were rushed to nearby Adventist Medical Center in Hanford, authorities said.

Meanwhile, according to California Highway Patrol (CHP) spokesperson Jerry Pierce, the truck driver sustained minor injuries.

At present, investigators are still trying to determine the cause of the crash.

In addition, subsequent reports claimed that another truck and train collision occurred just a few miles away from the first incident, in which the truck driver was left with severe injuries, according to the CHP.

Basically, such train accidents consist of derailments, collision with other vehicles, and collision with trains. In some cases, accidents are due to mechanical failure and negligence. Incidentally, if the investigation on such accidents revealed evidences of negligence on the part of a certain party or individual, there are existing laws that could determine the extent of liability of the party responsible for the accident, according to a Los Angeles accident attorney.

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Three-train Collision in Indiana Caused Fire and Hazardous Chemical Spill

Three freight trains carrying cars and chemical substances collided at the Porter County, Northwest of Indiana last December 5. The incident caused fire, traffic jam and panic to nearby residents.

According to reports, one freight train carrying 60 cars rear ended another freight train pulling empty ethanol tankers and 77 cars. As a result of incident, cars from the first and second freight train derailed and both trains crashed to the third freight train hauling 48 cars on a separate track. The third train did not avoid the derailed trains thus causing the three trains to collide against each other and burst into fire.

Two of trains’ crew members have sustained physical injuries and were sent to the hospital for proper medical treatment. Injuries sustained by victims were said to be non–life threatening and are expected to recover soon.

The train accident left mingled cars by the road side. The Porter County authorities evacuated the residents nearby the accident scene in to protect them from hazardous smokes coming from the crashed trains. The fire from the trains was up for six hours until county firefighters managed to extinguish it by sunset.

Fortunately, all of the three freight trains are owned by only one transportation company – the CSX Transportation Inc. Because of this, financial expenses would all be under the involved company’s responsibilities alone.

According to statistics, for every one and a half hour, train accidents occur in the country and for every two weeks, a freight train pulling hazardous substances derails causing poisonous chemicals to spill. Hence, train drivers are expected to be more careful and vigilant in order to train accidents. Accidents that were caused by freight trains loaded with hazardous materials may not only result into death but might also create a health threat to the community due to chemical spills.

Because of the mentioned Indiana train accident, it is clear that the first train driver became reckless and failed to take safety measures while at the railway. Although the cause of the accident is currently under investigation, mechanical failure is probably not a factor to the said train accident but definitely recklessness and negligence.

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One Liberty University Freshman Student Died in a Train Accident

A freshman student from the Liberty University just died from a train accident in Amherst County, Massachusetts.

The 18 – year old Hannah Williams died after she was struck by a train near Lynchburg, Virginia, where she attended Liberty University to pursue a career in government and journalism.

According to reports, last November 17 at around 10:45 in the evening, Hannah Williams and her three other friends were stargazing on the train trestle along River Road in Madison Heights, Virginia when a train bounded north struck them.

Williams was struck by the train and died while the two others were able to jump to a nearby piling and the other one hung down below the rail track through his arms.

The four survivors were brought Lynchburg General Hospital where they were treated for the personal injuries. One of them was seriously injured from falling through the trestle and is currently in critical condition.

In behalf of the school, the Liberty University President, Chancellor Jerry Falwell Jr., expressed his condolences to Williams’s family and to their four injured students. According to the school president, Hannah Williams was a great student. She is a great loss not only to her family but also to the school institution.

Williams’ mother is now in deep sorrow. It was a very quick tragedy. In a glimpse, all her daughter’s plans for a bright future not only fell into pieces but totally ended. She never even imagined before that she would loss her precious daughter in a very tragic way – in a train accident.

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Santa Ana Train Accident Injures One Person

A train accident occurred in Santa Ana when a Ford pickup truck failed to cross the tracks before the Amtrak passenger train arrived.

According to reports, the collision decoupled at least 2 train cars.

Fortunately, the train was not derailed and the passengers were not injured.

The truck driver was brought to a hospital but is expected to survive his injuries.

Obviously the truck driver has liability over the accident.

Trains always have the right of way in crossings because unlike other vehicles, trains cannot make abrupt changes, or make sudden stops to avoid a collision.

But does the railroad have liability as well?

It depends.

The duties of a railroad company include informing other motorists of their approach to the crossing.

Did they blow their horns to announce that the train is incoming?

They also have a duty to keep crossings reasonably safe for pedestrians and other vehicles.

Were there safety and warning signs, railroad gate and/or safety fences to prevent collisions?

The answers to those questions would indicate the level of liability of the railroad company.

Train accident laws can also be complicated as it may involve federal and state laws.
It is best to consult a train accident attorney for advice.

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NTSB about to Release Findings on Chatsworth Train Accident

The National Transportation Safety Board is close to releasing the results of its investigation on the Chatsworth train accident that claimed the lives of 25 people in 2008.

The NTSB will convene a board meeting to address the final report about the now infamous collision.

The full report will also be posted on their website.

The agency will also be releasing a summary of probable causes and safety recommendations.

Many expect that the agency’s findings will be similar to what investigators believe to be the cause of the train accident.

Investigators believe that the Metrolink Engineer have been text messaging seconds before running a red light and crashing into the freight train.

Metrolink has taken several measures to address the problem of having negligent engineers, including the placement of video cameras in strategic locations of the train.

However, even with these cameras, at least four red light violations have been reported last year.

Hopefully the report will contain sound safety recommendations that will eliminate or at least cut down on the incidence of engineer negligence.

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Two Injured in Train Collision

A train accident in Orange County has seriously injured two occupants of a vehicle which crossed the tracks in Anaheim.

Witnesses say that the vehicle was driving on the street next to the tracks when it drove onto the crossing gates.

Firefighters had to extricate the passenger in the badly damaged vehicle that was pushed to a power pole because of the impact.

These train accidents can be prevented with cautiousness and following of traffic lights that would dictate on who has the right of way.

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Metrolink to Install Cameras on its Passenger Trains

Metrolink has announced its plans to install video cameras in all its commuter trains to reduce the occurrence of fatal train crashes.

Metrolink currently has the highest fatality rate compared to the other larger rail systems in the US.

The move comes after the now infamous Chatsworth train accident that killed 25 people after a Metrolink passenger train collided head-on with a Union Pacific freight train last September 12, 2008.

Investigations of the train accident show that the Metrolink engineer, Robert Sanchez has been text messaging only seconds before the crash.

Now, one year after the accident, Metrolink will have cameras on all 52 passenger trains pointing into each locomotive cab as well as outside facing forward to record activities in front of the train.

The union that represents train engineers opposes putting cameras in trains, and some safety experts doubt its effectiveness.

However, a lot of people see the potential of this move in decreasing man-made errors that causes accidents.

The union may claim invasion of privacy but under California law, it could only apply if the employee has an expectation of privacy.

Since the Metrolink authorities have provided notice of when and where the cameras will be placed, it may be argued that it already took away the expectation of privacy since they were already informed.

Although providing notice would take away the element of surprise, it would also deter the people being monitored from committing the conduct that is sought to be monitored.

Hopefully this move will greatly reduce Metrolink accidents by keeping their employees focused on their work.

For more information about related laws regarding video monitoring in the workplace, you should consult an employment law attorney for more details.

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Guaranteed Right of victims in Train Accidents

In 2005, many are shaken of the deadly incident that happened in the Los Angeles-Glendale border, where a Metrolink train, which was heading south to Union Station, derailed after plowing into Juan Manuel Alvarez’ jeep which then crashed into a northbound Metrolink train.

The Metrolink derailment killed 11 people and injured more than 180 others. Eventually, the suspect who caused the derailment, Juan Manuel Alvarez, was charged with constitutive offenses arising from the incident.

The latest report by the abc7 local entitled, “Jurors view Metrolink rail cars in trial” relayed the suspect’s conviction, which the Juror ordered and found him guilty of first-degree murder and a count of arson along with the special circumstance of multiple murders.

The Jurors however, are left with the sole issue to decide, that is, whether Alvarez, now 29, should be sentenced to death or life in prison without the possibility of parole.

With these, I would not wish to discuss or dwell on this issue, as it can be better left for the jury to decide. We set aside the juror’s dilemma and focused on the injury implications of the incident in relation to the pursuit for compensation and damages.

Many of us ride trains, whether in going into our offices, schools and respective engagements and conversely, from there to our homes and nests. This has become a part of the daily routine of most Americans.

However, the sad parts, just like what happened in the case cited, train are not free from accident involvement. This is a concern for us, both pressing and damaging, as we can be potentially involved in train accidents, unpredictably.

One must know that whenever you can get involved in train accidents, you have the constitutive right to claim compensation and damages against the erring person or persons who caused the mishaps. This is a guaranteed right under the law that needs to be taken and coursed by any victims in order to be compensated for their injury.

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