Last month, two accidents involving Amtrak trains occurred 10 ½ hours apart in Louisiana. The accidents injured six people and killed a 36-year-old woman. In the first accident, an Amtrak train struck the 36-year-old victim and a 19-year-old man as they walked along the tracks around 6:30 p.m. in Vinton. Investigators do not know why the two did not see or hear the train.
In the second accident, an Amtrak train carrying 80 people struck a tractor-trailer in Slidell. The train carried 12 crew and 68 passengers. The collision with the truck injured six people. According to police, the truck driver suffered moderate injuries while four crewmembers and one passenger suffered minor injuries. At the time of the accident, the truck was hauling the shell of an armored personnel carrier to Slidell. Although the train crossing is marked, the truck driver told investigators that he did not see the train.
An Amtrak spokesperson said most of the train crossings have a designated marker, and the train itself has an extremely loud horn, ringing bells and flashing lights. Investigators did not know if they would charge the truck driver with any violations.
Contact a New Orleans accident lawyer if you suffer injuries in an accident involving a truck or automobile. An experienced and committed New Orleans accident attorney will give you the best chance at a fair financial recovery for your injuries.