Midland County Grand Jury To Investigate Train Tragedy Wednesday
By: Dylan Brooks
Updated: January 8, 2013
The Midland County District Attorney's Office will give their investigation to a grand jury in Midland County District Court on Wednesday, January 9th.
It's unclear at this time if the Midland County District Attorney's Office is looking for a criminal indictment to be filed in the aftermath of the fatal train crash.
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.
The National Transportation Safety Board is still investigating the crash.
Crash victims have filed two lawsuits against both Union Pacific and Smith Industries.
Union Pacific has agreed to extend the warning time for crossing gates and signals at the Garfield Street railroad crossing, after lawyers for crash victims determined that the warning time at that crossing was shorter than TXDOT recommendations.


