Friday, July 10, 2009

Teens Killed By Amtrak Train—Police Await Answers

July 10, 2009 (by Horatio Algren)

According to reports by at least one California train accident attorney, an Amtrak train in route from Pontiac Michigan to Chicago struck a vehicle filled with teens on the track in Canton Township Michigan.

The accident occurred at a marked gate crossing according to Sgt. Mark Gajeski and the teenage driver identified as 19-year-old Dan Broughton drove around at least one vehicle stopped at the gates that were down at the marked railroad crossing.

The train had 170 passengers aboard at the time of the crash and there were no reported injuries in the train. There was some passenger that did state they became ill from the smell of gasoline.

The Amtrak passenger train that was in route from Pontiac Michigan to Chicago pushed the black Ford Fusion after striking it approximately one mile according to authorities. The train at the time of the crash was traveling at approximately 70 miles per hour.

It has also been reported that the teen driver that was carrying four other passengers that were killed in the accident had his driver’s license suspended for one month for traffic violations including speeding and disobeying a stop sign. His license was suspended for one month by a judge after an April 1st stop in Woodhaven for failure to produce a driver’s license.

 news personal injury attorney los angeles