NTSB Begins Investigating Deadly Train Crash in Midland
By: Nick Ochsner
Updated: November 16, 2012
Investigators with the
National Transportation Safety Board have arrived in Midland to
investigate Thursday's deadly train crash.
The 16-member 'go team' arrived from Washington late Friday morning and held several press conferencse later that afternoon to brief reporters on what their investigation will encompass.
Board member Mark Rosekind told reporters federal investigators will be looking at whether or not the grade crossing warning system was working at the time of the crash and will examine other factors in the crash, including human error and train operations.
Investigators were able to determine several important pieces of information in their first day of investigating--including the speed of the train at the time of the crash.
Rosekind told reporters Friday afternoon the train was going 62 mph at the time of the crash; the speed limit in that corridor is 70 mph. Rosekind said investigators found evidence of the train's emergency break being used in the moments before the crash.
Other questions raised by federal investigators Friday included whether or not parade organizers had file appropriate paperwork that would have alerted the railroad to a parade crossing the tracks.
The driver of the truck that was hit has submitted a voluntary blood sample to police and NTSB investigators are working on getting a list of all passengers on the truck in order to begin interviewing them.
NTSB investigators are expected to stay in Midland for the next seven to ten days and final results from the investigation will take months to complete.
The 16-member 'go team' arrived from Washington late Friday morning and held several press conferencse later that afternoon to brief reporters on what their investigation will encompass.
Board member Mark Rosekind told reporters federal investigators will be looking at whether or not the grade crossing warning system was working at the time of the crash and will examine other factors in the crash, including human error and train operations.
Investigators were able to determine several important pieces of information in their first day of investigating--including the speed of the train at the time of the crash.
Rosekind told reporters Friday afternoon the train was going 62 mph at the time of the crash; the speed limit in that corridor is 70 mph. Rosekind said investigators found evidence of the train's emergency break being used in the moments before the crash.
Other questions raised by federal investigators Friday included whether or not parade organizers had file appropriate paperwork that would have alerted the railroad to a parade crossing the tracks.
The driver of the truck that was hit has submitted a voluntary blood sample to police and NTSB investigators are working on getting a list of all passengers on the truck in order to begin interviewing them.
NTSB investigators are expected to stay in Midland for the next seven to ten days and final results from the investigation will take months to complete.
Comments
So the train was speeding by 47 mph.
Effective Begin-Date of Record: 01/01/11
Initiating Agency State
Crossing No.: 796331L
In Midland
Street or Road Name: GARFIELD
Quiet Zone: 24 hour
Maximum Time Table Speed: 15 mph
Traffic Light
Interconnection/Preemption:
Simultaneous Preemption
Jon B.
November 17, 2012 at 3:08 am
