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Developing: Amtrak Engineer Refusing to Speak
The Amtrak train that derailed in Philadelphia Tuesday night, killing 8 and injuring hundreds and leaving some unaccounted for, was, according to National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) officials, traveling at 106 mph – more than twice the 50 mph speed limit of the area comprised of a notorious curve in the tracks.
After the train went hurtling into the sharp turn, all seven cars along with the engine fell off the tracks. Questions still remain as to WHY this train was traveling so fast, but one thing is becoming clear – Speed is what caused this accident.
Sumwalt: Moments before derailing, train was placed into “engineer induced braking,” with full brake application. #Amtrak
— NTSB (@NTSB) May 13, 2015
At a press conference today, NTSB board member, Robert Sumwalt stated that “just moments before the derailment, the train was placed into engineer induced braking, ” meaning the trains engineer applied the emergency brakes.
When the brakes were applied, the train was traveling at approximately 106 mph, only three seconds later, just before the data to the recorder was terminated – at the moment of derailment – the train was moving at a speed of 102 mph. It would be impossible to safely slow down a train moving at speeds like this and approaching a curve in three seconds… So why was this train moving so fast to begin with?
There’s no conceivable way that a train should ever be traveling at a speed twice the authorized limit, so speaking with the individual in control of its operation is critical. Which leads us to the man now at the center of the investigation – it’s engineer, recently identified as 32 year old, Brandon Bostian from Queens, NY. Bostian initially told police, while being treated in the hospital for injuries he suffered from the crash, that he could not recall his speed. But today he is refusing to talk to detectives and has hired a lawyer.
The investigation is still in its early stages with tons of evidence waiting to be reviewed.