• Train Accidents

June 30, 2011

6 Killed, at Least 20 Injured in Big Rig Amtrak Train Crash

6 Killed, at Least 20 Injured in Big Rig Amtrak Train Crash near Reno, Nevada

The survivors of a fatal Nevada Amtrak train crash are coping with flashbacks of the fiery big rig highway rail crossing accident that killed six people and injured around 20 people in the Nevada high desert, according to The Washington Post. The truck driver was one of those killed in the crash, as was the train conductor. An investigation into the cause of the accident is ongoing.

The California-bound Amtrak train was halted at a rural highway crossing about 70 miles east of Reno, when the driver of a 2008 Peterbilt tractor towing two empty side dump trailers failed to stop at the crossing, crashed through the warning gates and into one of the ten cars with such force that it became embedded into the rail car. A fire erupted at the crash filling the area with smoke and flames. The train engineer, who saw that the oncoming truck would be unable to stop, immediately applied the emergency brakes, which, unfortunately, could not stop the 78 mph momentum of the train before the highway crossing.

National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigators are considering all factors in determining the cause of the Nevada Amtrak train crash, including driver fatigue, distracted driving, and alcohol and/or drug impairment. The truck driver’s cell phone was recovered in the rubble and will be checked to determine whether the driver was using it at the time of the crash. Investigators are also inspecting the remains of the truck’s wheels, tires, and brakes, for any indication of the cause of the accident.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a Nevada train accident caused by negligence or defective equipment, a Las Vegas personal injury lawyer at Shook & Stone can help you seek compensation from at-fault parties to cover medical costs, time lost from work, pain and suffering and other losses and damages. Call us today at 702-570-0000 to learn more about your legal rights.