Posted on 05/13/2015 8:36:13 PM PDT by grundle
Full title: Brandon Bostian, 32 of Queens, is engineer in control of doomed Amtrak train refusing to speak with investigators
Brandon Bostian, 32 of Queens, is the engineer who was in the control of the Amtrak train that derailed in Philadelphia.
The engineer in control of the speeding Amtrak train that derailed in Philadelphia is a Queens man who's refusing to talk to investigators about the deadly Tuesday night crash.
Investigators said the engineer - who CBS and NBC News identified as Brandon Bostian, 32 - had a lawyer at his side when he met with police on Wednesday, and he refused to make a statement or answer questions, Philadelphia police said.
The National Transportation Safety Board said the engineer hit the train's emergency brake just seconds before it hit a sharp turn going 106 mph. The speed limit for the curve is 50 mph.
“There’s no way in the world that he should have been going that fast into the curve,” Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter told CNN. “Clearly, he was reckless and irresponsible in his actions. I don’t know what was going on with him.”
About five hours after the crash, Bostian's Facebook page was updated to change his profile picture to an all black photo.
"So sorry! Saying prayers for all," commented one Facebook friend, Barbara Neu.
According to public records and his social media accounts, Bostian is a native of Memphis, Tennessee who attended the University of Missouri. While there in 2005, he worked as a cashier at Target before landing a job as an assistant conductor at Amtrak.
He worked in the Midwest before moving to New York, and was promoted to engineer in 2010.
"He told me he liked Amtrak," a neighbor in his Forest Hills building, Moresh Koya, told the Daily News. "He was happy working there, nothing negative. He was happy with his job."
The NTSB said it's planning to interview the engineer in the near future.
"That's a high priority for us," said NTSB board member Robert Sumwalt. He said they'd give him some to before they do, because "this person has gone through a very traumatic event."
sometimes people can be extremely capable at a youngish age....but this guy does not give me that feeling...he looks like a lightweight....
There is actually technology that keeps trains from speeding above the limit for different sections of track. The train involved had it, but that section of track did not.
Similarly a fatal Metro-North crash in New York last year from when an engineer fell asleep early in the morning presumably could have been averted if that technology had been installed.
I investigated some major ship collisions for the Coast Guard. One of my objectives was to get to the parties before the attorneys. When I succeeded it was a joy to say to them. Would you like to read the statement of your client? Suddenly their job became more difficult instead of mine.
Probably sexting.
Jacking off more likely...
Reportedly, the engineer slammed on the brakes, and it was only doing 102 when it derailed.
Him being gay has nothing to do with this you ninny
Well yes and no... the point being it’s now starting to look like we may have had and incompetent engineer
so what is the possibility he may have gotten and held this position by some kind of affirmative action political correctness....I’d like to know what is history of fitness reports was at Amtrak
we’re not talking your average person here we’re talking and activist ie like Obama one of these people that scream and shouts plays the victim oppressed minority card to get what they want
the government is full of these type of people just like unions are full of these type of people ...the incompetent protected bums
squeaky wheels that play the game to get their government positions
There certainly could be more automation on rail lines, I think there are systems to regulate speeds in certain signal blocks already. Airliners are largely automated even to the point of automated landing systems.
It does if he was on fast track promotion because of his orientation.
He could have also been on something like Grindr(gay dating app like Tindr) happily swiping away. It wouldn’t show as he was texting but still 100% distracted.
I just read that the two miles before the 50 mph curve is restricted to 70 mph.
Is that fruit juice?
I suspect that there are DOT regulations that require his cooperation with investigators.
We know a drug test is required in any kind of common carrier accident.
Under penalty of what? He might lose his job? He might lose his train operators permit? those are the least of his concerns at this point. He needs to keep his mouth shut and let his lawyer speak for him during any trial.
Reports say that “he’s expected to do so [speak to investigators] in the next few days”
It’s required by the conditions of his employment.
I certainly hope that they did a blood draw immediately, also required by the conditions of his employment.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.