Victims become Predators in an instant

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

Any sympathy I had for the veterans in this case just disappeared.....it would be great if the lawyers involved were disbarred over this too.

Two Army veterans and their wives on Wednesday sued the railroad company whose train hit a truck carrying veterans and their spouses during a parade in Texas.

Union Pacific spokeswoman Raquel Espinoza-Williams said the company would not comment on the lawsuit specifically, but she noted in an email that federal investigators have already determined the truck moved onto the tracks after the red flashing lights and bells activated.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/veterans-sue-union-pacific-railroad-truck-owner-over-fatal-crash-during-parade-in-texas/2012/11/28/5847fa86-39c1-11e2-9258-ac7c78d5c680_story.html

[Ban Hammer 13,333]

from what i read, there is a basis - the warning was set for a 25 mph train, and trains run through there at up to 70 mph.

Edited November 30, 2012 by charles!

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

from what i read, there is a basis - the warning was set for a 25 mph train, and trains run through there at up to 70 mph.

This is true, the warning was originally set up for 25mph giving well over 30 seconds warning. That being said, even at the faster speed the crossing provides more time than the federal requirement of 20.

Having read some of their points its clear even their attorneys don't have a clue. For instance they are claiming the train didn't try to stop...it takes a freight train something like a mile to come to a stop.

Edited November 30, 2012 by Sousuke

[Ban Hammer 13,333]

This is true, the warning was originally set up for 25mph giving well over 30 seconds warning. That being said, even at the faster speed the crossing provides more time than the federal requirement of 20.

Having read some of their points its clear even their attorneys don't have a clue. For instance they are claiming the train didn't try to stop...it takes a freight train something like a mile to come to a stop.

true, stopping a freight train is only marginally easier than changing the course of an aircraft carrier.

i guess an investigation will determine the speed of the train - from there it can be determined if there was some fault on the part of the railroad.

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

Ah . . . America, the land of litigation.

Where I come from, the motorist is required to make sure he or she can cross the railroad tracks safely. Knowing that a red light may malfunction -- after all, light bulbs tend to burn out eventually -- that implies stopping and looking in both directions before crossing. If that had happened in my old country, the truck driver's insurance company would have to pay for the damages, and I personally agree with that assessment. Seriously.