Three crewmembers from Union Pacific were killed in a fatal Oklahoma train accident involving a head-on collision between two trains. According to a news report in the Associated Press, the fatal train crash occurred just east of Goodwell, 300 miles northwest of Oklahoma City. Officials say the collision triggered a “diesel-fueled fireball” that badly burned the remains of the victims. In addition to the three fatalities, one worker jumped to safety while only suffering cuts and bruises.
Investigators, based on preliminary reports, state that the signals were working properly and that one of the trains should have pulled onto a side track. Therefore, experts believe that human error may have been a factor in the accident. They are trying to determine if the negligence of an operator or a supervisor at the communications center contributed to the crash.
There are many questions that must be asked following a fatal train accident. Was one of the operators or supervisors distracted from his or her duties? Did the signal system fail to work properly? Was there a technical failure in the control room? Were the train and the train tracks properly maintained? How could the accident been avoided?
The family of a deceased train accident victim would be well advised to discuss their legal rights and options with an experienced Oklahoma wrongful death attorney. If the victim was on the job at the time, financial compensation may be available for their terrible loss through workers’ compensation death benefits as well as through civil litigation against the at-fault party.
The skilled Oklahoma personal injury lawyers at the Maples Law Firm fight hard to protect the rights of injured victims and their families. If you have been injured or if you have lost a loved one due to someone else’s negligence, please contact us at (888) 226-6159 for a free consultation to discuss your case.
