Lawyers: Improved Signal Times Would Have Saved Lives In Midland Train Tragedy
By: Big 2 Staff
Updated: December 20, 2012
MIDLAND -- Attorneys for the victims of the Midland train tragedy crash are now saying that a proper signal warning time would have prevented all deaths and injuries sustained the incident.
Four military veterans were killed -- and 17 other people were injured -- when a Union Pacific freight train plowed into a Smith Industries flatbed trailer near the intersection of West Front Street and South Garfield Street on November 15th.
The flatbed trailer was carrying 12 military veterans, their 12 wives and 2 escorts from downtown Midland to a banquet at the Midland County Horseshoe Arena when tragedy struck.
Attorneys Kevin Glasheen and Bob Pottroff -- who are suing Union Pacific and Smith Industries on behalf of the crash victims -- inspected the Garfield Street railroad crossing on December 17th.
On Thursday, Glasheen and Pottroff released their findings from the inspection.
The lawyers determined that the lights and gates at the intersection gave a 20 second warning time, even though TXDOT signal plans adopted for the intersection in 1992 ask for a 30 second warning for the signal system.
Glasheen and Pottroff also say that the plans in the signal cabin at the Garfield Street railroad crossing "inexplicably" call for a 25 second warning time.
However, overlapping circuits from nearby crossing signals led to a shorter warning time.
Union Pacific railroad has let Glasheen and Pottroff know that they plan on fixing the signal problems at the railroad crossing on December 21st.
Four military veterans were killed -- and 17 other people were injured -- when a Union Pacific freight train plowed into a Smith Industries flatbed trailer near the intersection of West Front Street and South Garfield Street on November 15th.
The flatbed trailer was carrying 12 military veterans, their 12 wives and 2 escorts from downtown Midland to a banquet at the Midland County Horseshoe Arena when tragedy struck.
Attorneys Kevin Glasheen and Bob Pottroff -- who are suing Union Pacific and Smith Industries on behalf of the crash victims -- inspected the Garfield Street railroad crossing on December 17th.
On Thursday, Glasheen and Pottroff released their findings from the inspection.
The lawyers determined that the lights and gates at the intersection gave a 20 second warning time, even though TXDOT signal plans adopted for the intersection in 1992 ask for a 30 second warning for the signal system.
Glasheen and Pottroff also say that the plans in the signal cabin at the Garfield Street railroad crossing "inexplicably" call for a 25 second warning time.
However, overlapping circuits from nearby crossing signals led to a shorter warning time.
Union Pacific railroad has let Glasheen and Pottroff know that they plan on fixing the signal problems at the railroad crossing on December 21st.
