Blog Post

Investigations Begin into Cause of Train Wreck


March 26, 2008
Topic: Train Accidents

Investigators are looking for answers into how a freight car came unhinged while parked on a siding and rolled onto the tracks causing what could have been a very tragic accident. The only reason passengers on the MBTA commuter rail didn't suffer even more severe injuries or fatalities was the quick thinking and action of the engineer who was alerted to the presence of another car on the tracks.

No one knows how the freight car became unhinged and began to roll, but at some point it appears that the boxcar, which was loaded with lumber and sitting on a rail siding off track, became loose and began to roll down and onto the passenger rail track on which the commuter train was traveling. An engineer was alerted by a track signal that there was something else on the track and heading towards the train. He immediately bought the train to a halt. He then got passengers who were seated just behind the engine and who would suffer the most from the impact of the crash to move from their seats. A few moments later, the boxcar hit the train.

As many as 150 people have been reported injured from the impact of the crash, although it's entirely possible that there were many more. Many of the injuries had to do with broken noses, gashes on heads, broken wrists and neck sprains, and some of the injuries reported were very serious. The number of "walking wounded" is also expected to be quite high, as many passengers might probably have preferred to go straight to the comfort of home instead of reporting their injuries.

All seem to agree that the accident could have been much worse had the engineer not acted as he did.

The immediate aftermath of the accident was traumatic according to many of the passengers. There was panic, and many of the passengers tried to smash open windows to make their way out. The crash also sparked off a bush fire right outside the doors and this bought smoke right in to the train. This obviously caused even more panic as people tried to battle the flames outside the car.

It safe to assume that the boxcar, loaded with heavy lumber, did not magically decide to roll its way down a passenger rail track. Negligence is plain to see in this case. Obviously, safety precautions were not followed when the boxcar was placed on the siding. In other words, there was definitely someone to blame for a freight car loaded with lumber breaking loose.

In the coming days we are sure to find out more about this accident as more details emerge and more passengers come forward to recount their side of the story. In the meantime, passengers who have suffered severe physical and emotional trauma are entitled to compensation for their injuries.

If you have been injured in a train wreck, you need the help of an experienced California personal injury attorney. Contact a lawyer at The Reeves Law Group for a free consultation.


The California personal injury attorneys at The Reeves Law Group represent victims of accidents, injuries and wrongful death throughout California from our offices in Los Angeles County, Orange County, San Diego County, Riverside County, San Bernardino County, Ventura County, Fresno County, Kern County, Sacramento County, San Fernando Valley, Long Beach, Antelope Valley, Torrance, Glendale, Bakersfield, Santa Ana, San Jose, San Francisco, Oakland, Ontario, and Victorville.