Engineer of Derailed Amtrak Train Can't Remember Crash Details

ABC Action News ^ | Wednesday, May 13, 2015 10:15PM | MEGHAN KENEALLY

[smalltownslick]

I’m curious about this - even if he can lawyer up and not talk to authorities, wouldn’t he be required to talk to his EMPLOYER??

[UCANSEE2]

It would appear that the locomotive did not come to an immediate stop, else he would likely have been ejected through the front windshield.

The windshield is cracked in only one spot. That is either where he hit his head (and required 12 stitches to close) or where something hit the windshield from the outside.

AT this point, we don’t know what happened but I think we will soon find out.

[9thLife]

Sure because, being the magnanimous fellow that he is, he’s “agreed” to be interviewed.

[UCANSEE2]

Well, I think the 14 staples thing will be easy to verify.

[9thLife]

Recipe for derailing a train:

1. increase speed to twice the limit while approaching a curve;
2. apply emergency brakes.

[PA Engineer]

Well, I think the 14 staples thing will be easy to verify.

Didn't say it wasn't. The head injury with memory loss is worked up with a Neuro Consult in the ER. Very simple test for overnight observation. Overnight observation was not indicated. The suturing of his head and leg was.

He remembers going into the curve and after, retrieving his cellphone to call 911. The accident was only a few seconds. Is that what he forgot?

He did remember to immediately lawyer up after the hospital visit.

You are very defensive here. Is there more to this you would like to tell us?

The NTSB reports the train was going 75mph in the 80mph zone and then sped up to 107 before the turn. The brakes were then manually applied immediately before the turn.

[UCANSEE2]

Not being defensive, just being open minded.

Kids dropping rocks from an overpass is highly possible and had just happened to a SEPTA train nearby minutes prior to the crash.

Sure the engineer is a lefty self proclaimed homo, but that in itself is no proof he intentionally caused the crash.

The windshield is cracked in just one place. Is that from a projectile(rock) or is that where the engineer hit his head as a result of the crash.

I don’t know for sure at this time

This is the first I have heard of the speed of the train being. Slower in the 80mph section. That adds a new variable to things.

It is entirely possible that he intended to crash the train. I just want to explore all the possibilities before jumping to any conclusions.

Do you think he crashed the train on purpose?

[UCANSEE2]

Regardless to why it happened, that does seem to be how it happened.

[PA Engineer]

This is the first I have heard of the speed of the train being. Slower in the 80mph section. That adds a new variable to things.

There is more. The NTSB reported the train began accelerating 1 mile before the turn.

They will not need his testimony to figure out what happened.

They are not a judicial entity. They are strictly a nonpartisan accident investigation board that will determine the cause and file recommendations to prevent further incidents.

[PA Engineer]

Do you think he crashed the train on purpose?

I don't want to think that. If he refuses to speak with the NTSB, then I will believe that was one of the causes.

[UCANSEE2]

Now I read that Amtrak officials are saying a foreign object struck the train before the crash.

[PA Engineer]

Amtrak train sped up for about a minute before crash, NTSB says