Midland County Grand Jury To Investigate Midland Train Tragedy
By: Dylan Brooks
Updated: January 3, 2013
MIDLAND -- A Midland County grand jury will look into the deadly Midland train tragedy next week.
Officials with the Midland County District Attorney's Office tell Big 2 that a grand jury will hear the case on January 9th.
Officials haven't said if they're seeking a criminal indictment for 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.
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.
Officials with the Midland County District Attorney's Office tell Big 2 that a grand jury will hear the case on January 9th.
Officials haven't said if they're seeking a criminal indictment for 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.
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.
