NTSB: Signals Were Working Properly At Time Of Train Tragedy
By: Katiera Winfrey
Updated: November 19, 2012
The NTSB board member will be leaving, but the NTSB investigators will stay active on train tragedy for at least four more days collecting additional information and conducting more testing.
The board said at the briefing, that there are eight areas being investigated in the accident. They list them as such: Rail-Road Signals, Operations, Mechanical, Recorders, Vehicle Factors, Motor carrier operations, Human Performance and Survival Factors.
While they are calling their finding factual, they say additional research could change those results.
NTSB board member Mark Rosekind told the press at the media briefing, based on the investigation, the rail road crossing signals and arms were working properly at the time of the collision.
"At this point there are no anomalies that have been found, and the system is functioning as designed," said Rosekind.
So far the NTSB has ruled out any errors on the part of the train crew or warning signal functionality. However, the investigation is still on going, and new information could come out.
Union Pacific appears to be in the clear. Officials said the train took off from the Pecos area the day of the accident.
"Nine miles outside of Pecos there was an absolute stop signal test, this is called and efficiency test. Essentially a signal goes to the engine and says stop, and this crew stopped, said Rosekind. "A union pacific manager comes on board and says that everything went fine and interacts with the crew and then release them."
The next step is looking to see if proper parade permits were filed by "Show of Support" organizers.
"We understand the permit process and what was supposed to be followed, now we need to go and see if that was actually followed at the time for this event," said Rosekind.
NTSB said the truck pulling the parade float is owned by Smith Industries Incorporated. The business is based in Midland. The NTSB, however is not releasing the driver's name.
In the meantime, the NTSB vows to look in to all possibilities and information available.
Rosekind said, "We won't just be looking at this event but whether its' a grate crossing or something else, we will be going back for as long as we can to basically find out if that history is relevant to this investigation."
A "Sight Distance Test" originally scheduled for Monday was changed to Tuesday. Investigators will bring in a similar size train and rig to re-inact the train and float accident.
To see full NTSB media briefings in its entirety, visit the NTSB.
