Iowa passenger files one of first lawsuits in deadly Amtrak crash in Missouri

Associated Press
·2 min read
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KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A passenger from Iowa has filed one of the first lawsuits in the June 27 crash between an Amtrak train and dump truck that left four dead and injured up to 150 others.

In a federal lawsuit filed Friday, Janet Williams of Dubuque named Amtrak, BNSF Railway Co. and MS Contracting LLC, the employer of the dump truck driver. The complaint alleges negligent design of the railroad crossing near the town of Mendon where the crash occurred, and says the train was packed with too many riders, creating “cattle car conditions.”

On Thursday, Amtrak and BNSF Railway filed a federal lawsuit against MS Contracting, the Kansas City Star reported. That lawsuit said the train was “clearly visible” and that the truck driver was careless in crossing the tracks.

Workers inspect the scene of an Amtrak train that derailed after striking a dump truck June 27 near Mendon, Missouri.
Workers inspect the scene of an Amtrak train that derailed after striking a dump truck June 27 near Mendon, Missouri.

Phone calls to MS Contracting went unanswered Friday.

The crossing where the collision occurred has no lights, signals or gates to warn of an approaching train. Area residents had previously expressed concerns about the safety of the crossing, described by locals and a federal transportation safety official as very steep. Chariton County leaders have been pushing for a safety upgrade at the crossing for nearly three years, presiding county commissioner Evan Emmerich said this week.

More: Upgrades to dangerous railroad crossings like site of deadly Missouri crash inch along in Iowa

The truck driver, Billy Barton II, 54, of Brookfield, died in the collision, along with three passengers on the train. Barton's widow, Erin Barton, on Thursday filed a wrongful-death lawsuit in state court against Chariton County and a BNSF official who cited the crossing as unsafe.

Chariton County Attorney Brandon Shelton did not immediately respond to a phone message left Friday.

Two train passengers — Rochelle Cook, 58, and Kim Holsapple, 56, both of DeSoto, Kansas — died at the scene. A third passenger, 82-year-old Binh Phan, of Kansas City, Missouri, died Tuesday at a hospital. The Missouri State Highway Patrol said up to 150 people also were injured.

Williams’ lawsuit said she “sustained significant and life-altering injuries” when she was suddenly thrown from her seat, struck by luggage and crushed by other passengers as her train car flipped onto its side. One of her attorneys, Robert J. Mongeluzzi, said in a statement that Amtrak and BNSF “failed to use basic railroad crossing safety devices such as warning lights and crossing gates.”

A BNSF spokeswoman said the company doesn't comment on pending litigation. Amtrak officials did not respond to a message.

The Southwest Chief was traveling from Los Angeles to Chicago when it hit the truck. Two locomotives and eight cars derailed. Amtrak officials said about 275 passengers and 12 crew members were aboard.

The National Transportation Safety Board said Wednesday that the train was going about 87 mph, under the 90 mph speed limit on the stretch of track where the collision happened.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa passenger files suit in collision between Amtrak train and truck