It is sometimes easy for passengers on buses and trains to lose track of where they are and to simply relax. When they are not responsible for operating the vehicles that are carrying them where they need to go they can often let go for a little while and enjoy reading, resting and other quiet undertakings. Many such passengers reach their destinations with little knowledge of the operational requirements needed to get them from one place to another.
Around 100 people traveling on an Amtrak train near Savoy, Illinois were violently shaken out of their relaxed rides when their train hit a piece of farm equipment. A fertilizer truck driven by a 42-year-old man pulled on to the tracks directly in front of the locomotive. The two vehicles hit and the driver of the fertilizer truck was killed in the accident.
Some of the train’s riders suffered accidental injuries as a result of the collision and the train was also damaged in the ordeal. In fact, many complained of neck pain following the accident. As investigators sort out the cause of this matter the injured passengers may wait to find out if they have any legal rights to pursue. The family of the dead fertilizer truck driver may also look into whether it can sue Amtrak for the man’s wrongful death.
Accidents happen each day but usually there is a cause that explains how they came to occur. This tragic accident took the life of one man and caused physical injuries to others. Depending upon which party caused the crash to occur some of the injured individuals may be able to pursue compensation for their damages.
Source: ABC Channel 3 News, “Amtrak Train Involved in Accident,” April 25, 2014
