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New judge, court date assigned for Texas collision trial
No; as I see it, the knucklehead who was driving the truck was clearly at fault. Why didn’t he see the railroad crossing? The train clearly didn’t jump into truck driver’s way.
“The trial is set for Jan. 26, 2014.” Should that read 2015?
Perhaps it was the parade organizers responsibility too. They should have known that they were essentially shutting down the right of way and rendering the usual 20 second warning useless if vehicles were moving slowly or stopped on the route. It would have been easy to call UP and alert them and have them slow trains down that day. I suspect nobody thought of it.
Trial should not be held in Midland. It is obvious that the “good ol
boy network” is in place.
Anybody with working ears that has seen the video can attest to the fact that the crew provided MORE than adequate warning, and the crossing was MORE than clearly marked. Just another case of relatives seeing dollar signs before the deceased were even in the ground. It’s a shame this happened, no doubt, but the truck driver needs to be held responsible and maybe his police “escorts”. Money won’t bring your dead loved ones back. Move on.
No; as I see it, the knucklehead who was driving the truck was clearly at fault. Why didn’t he see the railroad crossing? The train clearly didn’t jump into truck driver’s way.
“The trial is set for Jan. 26, 2014.” Should that read 2015?
Perhaps it was the parade organizers responsibility too. They should have known that they were essentially shutting down the right of way and rendering the usual 20 second warning useless if vehicles were moving slowly or stopped on the route. It would have been easy to call UP and alert them and have them slow trains down that day. I suspect nobody thought of it.
It seems the fact the two previous judges recused themselves is kind of lampshaded. What reason did they give to recuse themselves?
It does seem like the trial should be held elsewhere. That said, any hint of impropriety weakens the judgement and increases the chance of being overturned on appeal.
Trial should not be held in Midland. It is obvious that the “good ol
boy network” is in place.
Anybody with working ears that has seen the video can attest to the fact that the crew provided MORE than adequate warning, and the crossing was MORE than clearly marked. Just another case of relatives seeing dollar signs before the deceased were even in the ground. It’s a shame this happened, no doubt, but the truck driver needs to be held responsible and maybe his police “escorts”. Money won’t bring your dead loved ones back. Move on.
Could it be that a few “Bar Fly” barristers with jelly on their chins see a corporation with deep pockets and the “Sydney Greenstreets” wish to line their retirement money belts? Just wondering?
If they had told the railroad in advance they would’ve put out a Form C bulletin notifying all train crew to reduce speed through the area at the time of the accident but from everything I’ve seen and heard is that the organizers didn’t notify the railroad of a parade so the trains ran through there at track speed I don’t see how they will win in court with all of the facts supporting the railroad
The train horn in the lead or trailing truck could have cause some confusion during the perade. The report said that the horn was being used and the people in the parade didn’t react when the train appeared. They mistook the train horn as the train horn used by the trucks in the parade. It seems odd that a truck would have a train horn but I guess there is no law against that.
Just as Derrick stated: had the parade organizers contacted the RR, they would’ve had a Form C added to all train crews bulletins. I’ve seen this plenty of times myself when carnivals or other large event’s come to town. My bulletins show reduced speeds and to blow freely throughout the affected area.
Mr Uyehata there are companies that sell train horns for trucks and most chrome (truck customizers) shops are well versed in installing railroad style horns.
I have always believed that locomotive horns on trucks is very much illegal, that from a trucker of thirty years.
I have always believed that locomotive horns on trucks is very much illegal, that from a trucker of thirty years.
Gates down lights flashing whistle blowing headlights on train approaching end of story…