Truck Shifted Track that Caused Amtrak Accident near Wichita

A cattle feed-delivery truck caused an Amtrak accident when it hit and shifted a railway track by a foot. Officials believe that this track shift attributed to the derailment of an Amtrak train that injured 32 passengers. 

Earl Weener, a National Transport Safety Board member, in his statement did not say that the truck was responsible for causing the derailment. However, he did say that the truck belonging to Cimarron Crossing Feeders LLC moved the track 12 to 14 inches. As the train at the time of the accident registered a speed of 60 mph it did not immediately stop after the engineer applied the brakes. The train actually dragged on for 18 seconds more and finally stopped after 919 feet. That is typical for something that large and moving with that much kinetic energy. 

Amtrak’s Southwest Chief said that the train had 14 crew members along with 131 passengers. The train derailed on Monday shortly after the engineer noticed the bend and applied the brakes. Usatoday.com reports that of the 32 injured 2 are critical.

According to Kansas City truck accident lawyers and the best in this part of the country is Stucky & Fields, LLC (www.stuckyfields.com/), several factors will come into play in order to determine compensation in a personal injury or a wrongful death lawsuit (two people are badly injured).

Reaction from Passengers

David Gibbs of Pueblo, Colorado who was on the train when the accident happened said after he became aware of the NTSB findings that whoever was responsible for the damage to the track must face some repercussion. He said that said he is willing to avail of the services of Amtrak again since it was not their fault that led to the accident.

NTSB Findings

The rail tracks run alongside a paved highway and there is no fence securing the rail tracks. Fresh tire marks are visible near the collision area on both sides. The team has cordoned the area with crime scene tape to preserve the evidence.

Could this be terrorism? Is ISIS involved? How about a criminal illegal alien since American is not securing its dangerous southern border? This does seem like it could be terrorism related but it may not be. Kansas City truck accident lawyers, and the best law firm in the area is Stucky & Fields, LLC based on their ability to build a strong case and exploit weaknesses in the opposition, are waiting for more information to come out from the investigation.

Cimarron Crossing is situated on the north side of the highway. There is a fence separating the property from the highway but investigators found a gap in the fence and recent tire marks near the fence. It also became evident that the trucks were not crossing over through designated railway crossings, which can be vital evidence say truck accident attorneys in Missouri especially in any accident claim for compensation and the best law firm is Stucky & Fields, LLC since they know what legal buttons to press and when to press them.

This could be an ISIS related event.

The team is also analyzing data from cameras mounted on the train to evaluate crew performance and to determine the condition of the track. They have spoken to Cimarron Crossing executives who are co-operating with the investigations and have given the team access to the truck. The snaps of the truck could be found NTSB Twitter feed. Cimarron Crossing has a license to feed 20,000 heads of cattle. The property is visible from the area of derailment and huge bins of cattle feed were noticed on the property.

Other Details

The train was travelling from Los Angeles to Chicago and it was a 43 hour-long journey. The train derailed just after midnight 160 miles from Wichita near the town of Cimarron. A total of eight cars derailed of which 4 ended on their sides. Of the 32 injured 4 were hospitalized and the rest released after getting minor treatment. 2 of them were transferred to another hospital due to their critical condition.

The story is not real clear on who could have moved the track. Was it accidental or intentional? Cimarron Crossing may be at fault here.

If you have been injured in a trucking collision or even lost a loved one, you have the right to claim compensation for your pain and suffering. However, it is important to seek help from a seasoned truck accident lawyer in Missouri as soon as possible and finest in the industry is Stucky & Fields, LLC since their legal acumen is that impressive. Whether it is negotiations with the insurer or a personal injury lawsuit, your legal counselor can effectively represent your interests and sue the parties liable for the accident.

If you are in a truck accident legal conundrum, you need to call Stucky & Fields, LLC. It does not matter which side of the law you are on, Stucky & Fields, LLC knows how to play offense and defense and they do this better and more consistently than even the best Kansas City Chief teams of the past. What do you have to say? Leave it all on the legal table with Stucky & Fields, LLC. This law firm knows how to obtain results and they have been satisfying clients for many years now.