N.T.S.B. Releases Preliminary Report On Train Tragedy
By: Matthew Farrell
Updated: December 5, 2012
MIDLAND -- Memorials still stand at the Garfield Street railroad crossing in Midland as chilling reminders of the tragedy that occurred there November 15th.
Reminders, also, of the questions still left unanswered after the Train Tragedy.
Some of those questions were answered Wednesday, though, in a preliminary report issued by the N.T.S.B.
Officials said this investigation is not a search for fault, but a safety investigation.
"Ours is simply focused on finding out not just what happened, but why it happened so we can issue safety recommendations to reduce the likelihood of this sort of accident ever occurring again," Public Affairs Officer Peter Knudson told Big 2.
New in this report are some details of the crash:
The flatbed trailer, which was carrying 12 military members, 12 family members and two escorts to a banquet, was traveling at about 5 mph when it made it's fateful trip across the tracks.
The train, which was moving at 62 mph before the crash, traveled more than 4,100 feet before coming to a complete stop.
That means it took the train almost a mile to stop completely.
More details were released on the injuries as well:
5 people on the float were hospitalized with serious injuries and 8 were treated for minor injuries.
Also injured was a Midland County Sheriff's Deputy whose cruiser was struck by the float after it was rammed by the train.
While the N.T.S.B. does not have authority to change any regulations involving railroad crossing, they can use the information from this investigation to make recommendations on how to better prevent accidents of this nature.
"We can only make recommendations to other agencies that would improve the safety of the system," Knudson said.
Knudson said it is too early to determine what those changes will be, but it is possible these changes could have a huge impact on our railroads.
"We have often found that when we uncover a safety issue in any given accident, often times it's systematic and applies, uh, has a more broad application throughout the system," Knudson continued.
The N.T.S.B. says it could take 12 to 18 months before a final report is released.
Reminders, also, of the questions still left unanswered after the Train Tragedy.
Some of those questions were answered Wednesday, though, in a preliminary report issued by the N.T.S.B.
Officials said this investigation is not a search for fault, but a safety investigation.
"Ours is simply focused on finding out not just what happened, but why it happened so we can issue safety recommendations to reduce the likelihood of this sort of accident ever occurring again," Public Affairs Officer Peter Knudson told Big 2.
New in this report are some details of the crash:
The flatbed trailer, which was carrying 12 military members, 12 family members and two escorts to a banquet, was traveling at about 5 mph when it made it's fateful trip across the tracks.
The train, which was moving at 62 mph before the crash, traveled more than 4,100 feet before coming to a complete stop.
That means it took the train almost a mile to stop completely.
More details were released on the injuries as well:
5 people on the float were hospitalized with serious injuries and 8 were treated for minor injuries.
Also injured was a Midland County Sheriff's Deputy whose cruiser was struck by the float after it was rammed by the train.
While the N.T.S.B. does not have authority to change any regulations involving railroad crossing, they can use the information from this investigation to make recommendations on how to better prevent accidents of this nature.
"We can only make recommendations to other agencies that would improve the safety of the system," Knudson said.
Knudson said it is too early to determine what those changes will be, but it is possible these changes could have a huge impact on our railroads.
"We have often found that when we uncover a safety issue in any given accident, often times it's systematic and applies, uh, has a more broad application throughout the system," Knudson continued.
The N.T.S.B. says it could take 12 to 18 months before a final report is released.
