In 2011, train engineer Darrell May was operating his train according to the rules in Texas and as he rounded a curve at 50 MPH, he saw a stalled tractor trailer on the tracks in front of him. He pulled the emergency brakes immediately, and he and his colleague threw themselves on the floor of the cab.
The collision with the tractor trailer at the railroad crossing was so severe that May was knocked out and he awoke days later in a hospital bed.
Since that day, the former train engineer’s life has been changed forever. He had head trauma that caused a brain bleed, which makes his right arm tremor constantly. He also suffered nerve damage in his mouth so that eating anything cold causes severe tooth pain. The railroad crossing crash also blew out his back and his lower back has been fused with two rods, four screws and six pins. The back injury also caused nerve damage so that his left foot constantly tingles as if it is asleep.
May recently warned Texas drivers at a press conference to never attempt to beat the train at a railroad crossing or to stop over the tracks under any conditions. He also noted that from the driver’s perspective at a railroad crossing, it is difficult to judge distance, so the train could be a lot closer than you think. It also is hard to tell how fast the train is traveling when looking at it straight on from the tracks.
May also recommended that every railroad crossing post should have a national 800 number and a six digit code. If a driver sees a vehicle stalled on the tracks, they should be able to call that number to alert train operators of the problem.
Our railroad accident lawyers in Virginia have represented far too many people who have been injured at railroad crossings. In some cases, the railroad or the train operator is at fault, but in the case above, the tractor trailer operator was at fault and his actions led to devastating injuries for the innocent victim.
We once handled a case where a railroad worker was injured at a crossing caused by a negligent truck driver, which resulted in a $650,000 verdict. We wish that truck drivers would ensure that such tragic accidents never occur. Even if the truck stalls on the tracks, it is possible that simply properly maintaining the rig could prevent such dangers.