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Jun 28, 2022
Two separate Amtrak passenger train crashes occurred in recent days, causing multiple deaths and injuries. Both Amtrak train accidents had a California connection, with the crash occurring on Sunday taking place in the East Bay community of Brentwood, and Monday’s derailment in Missouri originating from Los Angeles.
2 Amtrak Passenger Train Crashes Occur in as Many Days; Multiple Injuries/Fatalities Reported
Amtrak Train Derails in Missouri Monday Injuring Over 150 and Killing at Least 4
An Amtrak passenger train crash occurred Monday at approximately 2 p.m. near Mendon, Missouri, multiple media outlets reported. The train, reportedly including eight cars and two locomotives, was traveling from Los Angeles to Chicago when it struck a dump truck that was “obstructing a public crossing.”
Some of the most up-to-date facts related to the Missouri Amtrak derailment include:
- The Missouri State Highway Patrol indicated that three train passengers and the driver of the truck that struck the train are confirmed dead.
- Law enforcement and Amtrak officials estimate at least 150 people were taken from the scene to 10 area hospitals.
- The Amtrak train crash victims reportedly sustained injuries ranging from minor to serious.
Close to 20 local and state law enforcement agencies, ambulance services, fire departments, and medical helicopter services responded, according to Missouri State Highway Patrol spokesman Corporal Justin Dunn. The first emergency responders arrived within 20 minutes of receiving a 911 call, Dunn confirmed to local WLKY.
Passengers from Multiple States On Board When Missouri Amtrak Derailment Occurred
WLKY confirmed that some of the passengers on the Amtrak train from Los Angeles to Chicago included:
- High school students from Pleasant Ridge High School in Easton, Kansas, who were headed to a Future Business Leaders of America conference in Chicago.
- Two Boy Scout troops from Appleton, Wisconsin, who were returning from the Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico (16 Boy Scouts from Troops 73 and eight adult leaders were reportedly on board when the train derailed).
- Members of a Greater Cincinnati church group, Our Lady of The Valley, who were returning from a mission in new Mexico.
A local school was reportedly turned into a triage center for victims with minor injuries, officials said.
Passengers Describe Monday’s Amtrak Derailment Scene
Robert Nightingale, a passenger in a sleeper car, said he was taking a nap when he the crash occurred.
“It all happened like slow motion. It started to rock and, and rock, and then flicker, and then it just all of a sudden – all this dust was through my window,” Nightingale, who is from Taos, New Mexico, told CNN.
Nightingale, who was not injured, also told CNN that he couldn’t make his way through the window, “which was blocked by dirt, so he grabbed his backpack and climbed into the hallway.” Then, according to CNN, he moved into a neighboring room where he found a way to climb out and onto the side of the train.
He said some people helped others reach the ground where he and others walked to the front of the train. He said the truck looked like it had big boulders in it, according to CNN.
“It hit something major to cause … every car to go off,” he said.
Sunday Amtrak Passenger Train Collides With Vehicle at Brentwood, California, Intersection
Monday’s Amtrak crash which occurred in rural Missouri was the second in as many days.
On Sunday, an Amtrak train was passing through an intersection without crossing gates in rural Brentwood, California, when it reportedly collided with a passenger vehicle, killing three people and causing major injuries to two others, officials confirmed.
The deadly train collision took place at the 3000 block of Orwood Road in Contra Costa County.
Amtrak said the crash on train 713 occurred at about 1 p.m. Pacific Time and that none of the 89 passengers or crew on board were injured.
All five of the victims were reportedly in the vehicle which was struck by the Amtrak passenger train. The two people who were seriously injured, an adult and a child, were airlifted to local hospitals, according to East Contra Costa County Fire Protection District Marshal Steve Aubert.
Aubert confirmed to CNN that Sunday’s crash wasn’t the first to have occurred at that same crossing.
“It’s in the rural part of our district, so it’s a lot more farmland out there,” he said.
“There are no crossing arms, there are no signals at that crossover, and it’s not the first accident that we’ve been to at that same spot. Trains are allowed to go up to 80 miles-per-hour along that stretch so it doesn’t take long for a train to catch up right at that crossing there.”
Following the two deadly train crashes, Amtrak released a statement noting that trespassing on railroad rights-of-way is the leading cause of rail-related deaths.
“These incidents can affect everyone involved – those who are injured or die and their families, our train crews, and our passengers,” the company said. “They also serve as critical reminders about the importance of obeying the law and of exercising extreme caution around railroad tracks and crossings.”
A Los Angeles Times report identified the three victims who died in Sunday’s crash through confirmation with the Contra Costa County coroner’s division:
- 51-year-old Mercedes Regalado of Antioch
- 41-year-old Julia Mondragon
- 72-year-old Maria Nieves of Dixon
Personal Injury and Wrongful Death Lawsuits Expected After 2 Amtrak Train Crashes
The tragic Amtrak train crashes are expected to lead to multiple civil lawsuits from victims as well as surviving family members. Personal injury lawsuits may be brought in cases of negligence in an effort to help the victims recover financial compensation for damages such as:
- Pain and suffering
- Hospital or medical bills
- Physical therapy or rehabilitation
- Lost wages
- Lost earning capacity
- Emotional or psychological trauma
- Loss of consortium
Similarly, wrongful death lawsuits are efforts to secure various types of damages that fall under three categories:
- Economic
- Non-economic
- Punitive
Examples of economic damages that may be recoverable in wrongful death lawsuits include:
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Medical bills related to the accident that killed your loved one
- The loss of benefits family members could have received from the decedent
- The value of the decedent’s health insurance or pension
- The loss of financial support the decedent would have provided during their lifetime
- A reasonable value for the household services the decedent would have been able to provide
Examples of common non-economic damages that may be recoverable in wrongful death lawsuits include:
- Loss of affection
- Loss of protection
- Loss of guidance and training
- The loss of support and companionship
- Loss of sexual relations
- Loss of moral support
Punitive damages may be awarded under extreme circumstances of violence, oppression, malice, fraud, or wanton and wicked conduct on the part of a defendant.
Although these types of damages are rare, Dordulian Law Group’s experienced team of wrongful death lawyers pursues punitive damages in all eligible cases.
In California, wrongful death punitive damages are not capped, meaning the surviving family members may be eligible to recover substantial compensation in instances where wanton disregard for human life caused their loved one’s death.
Contact a Personal Injury or Wrongful Death Lawyer Today for a Free Consultation
Dordulian Law Group (DLG) has over 25 years of experience successfully representing personal injury victims and wrongful death beneficiaries and helping them recover the maximum financial compensation available.
We understand how traumatizing and overwhelming this type of accident can be, and handle each client’s case with empathy and compassion. We’re here to support you through the entire legal process while aggressively fighting to obtain justice for the harm you’ve endured.
Schedule an appointment online for a free consultation today, or call us directly to speak to our top-rated, expert car accident attorneys.
DLG believes all Californians should have access to the very best legal representation available, regardless of financial circumstances. That’s why we offer a No Win/No Fee Guarantee, ensuring clients pay nothing unless we win.
We’ve recovered over $100 million for injured victims, and will not settle for anything but the maximum damages award for your personal injury or wrongful death claim.
Contact us today at 818-322-4056 for a free and no obligation consultation regarding your Amtrak passenger train lawsuit. We’re here to answer any questions you have and help ensure you and your family are protected under the law.
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