Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Amtrak engineer Brandon Bostian found not guilty in 2015 deadly train derailment [Barf Alert]
WHYY ^ | March 4, 2022 | WHYY PBS

Posted on 03/04/2022 2:00:58 PM PST by fwdude

click here to read article


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-27 last
To: glorgau

It’s 2022, that can’t be called a “speedy” trial.

....................................................

“Right to a speedy trial” goes right out the window when it’s the defendant’s side that requests the delays.


21 posted on 03/04/2022 3:53:03 PM PST by Graybeard58 (The China virus doesn't scare me, Venezuelaism does.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: fwdude

Why am I not surprised that Brandon got away with murder. After all, just about every other Democrat gets away with it (with Bill Clinton being worst, as he was killing people left and right in Serbia, people how posed no threat to us, made Putin look like a saint).


22 posted on 03/04/2022 4:04:07 PM PST by BobL (I eat at McDonald's and shop at Walmart, I just don't tell anyone.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: fwdude

Wasn’t this driver texting on a homo dating app when the accident happened?


23 posted on 03/04/2022 5:05:44 PM PST by Rebelbase
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SaveFerris

He was not asleep.

Most of the details of the accident can be found in the NTSB Accident Report.

There were no traces of drugs in his sytem. He did not have his cell phone available.

He had driven a train from New York to Washington earlier that day and was returning when the accident happened. The flight recorders showed that at all times that day his train was operated at proper speed and he was fully compliant with all details of his operating procedures.

The accident happened because he was lost, but he didnt know he was lost. (This is called “Loss of situational awareness” It is common on trains)

He had been distracted by police activity when he got switched to another track to pass a train that had been stopped after being struck in the windshield by a rock, injuring the engineer. He was on the radio, talking to the dispatcher, looking for police and firement on teh tracks, and listening to reports of the other enginneer’s injuries etc.
By the time he was returned his full attention to driving the train, he had passed North Philadelphia station. He erroneously thought he was well past it and that had already past the curve at Frankford. But he has not.

The Northeast corridor is dark, with few landmarks, no signs etc to quickly reorient him.

Based on where he thought he was, he accelerated the train to 106 mph. The speed limit aproaching Frankford is 80 mph. The 106 mph was exactly the proper speed etween Frankford and the Delaware River bridge at Trenton, the section of track where he erroneously thought he was. When he unexpectedly came to the sharp curve at Frankford, he tried to slow down but it was too late. Stopping distances, already long at 106 mph, are 3 times longer for a train than for a car.

Have you ever been drivng on an Interstate at night and lost track of where you were after being distracted by converstaion, daydreaming, or something on the radio etc. I have, a zillion times. And on a highway, there are lots of things to help with your situational awareness. Reflective paint, bright signs, other cars with headlights, well marked curves, etc. The Notheast corridor they don thave these things.

Brosnian was charged with manslaughter, which requires more than gross negligence. It requires willful, conscious, deliberate negligence. In other words one has to be aware that one is being negligent, and proceed anyway. Examples are a drunk driver or a person shooting a gun when he cant see what he’s shooting at.

Brosian was not being willfully negligent. He never should have been charged. The jury reached the correct verdict, and didnt need to ponder it very long.


24 posted on 03/04/2022 6:01:48 PM PST by OVERTIME (Tammie Lee Haynes)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: OVERTIME

🤔


25 posted on 03/04/2022 6:31:32 PM PST by SaveFerris (The Lord, The Christ and The Messiah: Jesus Christ of Nazareth - http://www.BiblicalJesusChrist.Com/)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: SaveFerris

Lost “situational awareness.” That’s a good one. I’m using it the next time I rob a bank.


26 posted on 03/05/2022 1:55:58 AM PST by fwdude (Every time I see someone voluntarily masked in public, I know I'm looking at a vaccinated person.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: OVERTIME

It’s his job to be aware. I’m not buying the BS you mention.

Unlike traffic on a monotonous stretch of highway, technology on a train is always at-hand to the operator to know EXACTLY where a train is in its route. Bostian was at the least extremely negligent in his duty to remain aware of the train’s position, a minimal duty of his job. He could have gotten this info in a split second before accelerating.


27 posted on 03/05/2022 2:08:04 AM PST by fwdude (Every time I see someone voluntarily masked in public, I know I'm looking at a vaccinated person.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-27 last

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.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson