FELA Lawyer News Blog

Archive for the ‘California Railroad News’ Category

ANTELOPE VALLEY, CA – Over a hundred Littlerock, California residents were evacuated on Wednesday, July 27, when a Union Pacific train carrying toxic chemicals derailed. Littlerock California is located in the Antelope Valley near Palmdale, California about 65 miles from Los Angeles.

Massive train derailment of Union Pacific freight train in Littlerock, CA where tanker cars reportedly were carrying hazardous materials.

The 70-car freight train was en route from Roseville, near Sacramento and heading towards Colton in San Bernardino County when the accident occurred at around 1:25 p.m. near 92nd Street East and East Avenue T. ... Read More

RENO, NV – The Amtrak conductor who was killed in last Friday’s deadly Reno train accident with an 18 wheeler truck has been identified as Amtrak employee, Laurette Lee.

Amtrak told KOLO 8 News that Lee was a conductor and a long-time employee. She began working with the company in 1988 and worked out of Amtrak’s Reno crew base. ... Read More

PLANADA, CA – Steven Miller, a 23-year-old from Trinity County who was staying in Planada, was killed on Monday, June 6, by an Amtrak passenger train traveling 70 mph near Childs Avenue and Santa Fe Drive. He was believed to be chasing his dog, said Deputy Tom MacKenzie, a sheriff’s spokesman.

Miller’s death occurred along a stretch of railroad tracks notorious for pedestrian traffic and has some residents questioning whether safety improvements are needed to prevent future incidents.

A week before, a 41-year-old man was killed as he drove over a private railroad crossing between Arboleda and Plainsburg roads.

The two fatalities are only the most recent tragedies to occur on railroad tracks in the Planada area. The death of a 10-year-old boy who was killed while walking near the tracks in 2006 still haunts many residents. ... Read More

PLANADA, CA – A 23 year old man was struck and killed by an Amtrak passenger train on June 6, 2011 while crossing the tracks in the small town of Planada, CA.

Rescue workers remove the body of the victim who was struck by an Amtrak passenger train in Planada, CA on June 6, 2011.

Planada is located in Merced County, California in the central part of the state, about 10 miles east of Merced. ... Read More

BAKERSFIELD, CA – Three tanker cars hauling oil and operated by the San Joaquin Valley Railroad Company jumped the tracks in Bakersfield, CA on on Thursday, March 24, 2011.

Three tanker cars from a San Joaquin Valley Railroad train derail in Bakersfield, CA on March 24, 2011.

Bakersfield is located in Kern County, California in the southern-central part of the state about 279 miles southeast of Sacramento. ... Read More

MERCED, CA  – Chunks of metal scraps and shard began raining on downtown Merced, at least that is how residents near 16th and R strrets described the train debris that fell on their town. It was described as a loud boom, followed by a rain of metal chunks and shards, looking like shrapnel, some weighing several pounds.

Gary Sorge, Merced City Schools warehouse employee, holds chunk of metal that fell from the debris shower that rained on downtown Merced, CA on Tuesday, February 15, 2011.

It remains unclear what caused the debris shower from the Union Pacific train, Merced police said, but it left eight nearby parked cars with minor body damage and broken windshields. ... Read More

COMMERCE, CA – Three men were walking along a railroad trestle in Commerce, CA and were killed when they got in the path of an oncoming Amtrak passenger train.

Scene of fatal Amtrak train accident on an overpass where 3 men were killed December 13, 2010 in Commerce, CA.

Commerce is in Los Angeles County, California in the southern part of the state, about 7 1/2 miles southeast of Los Angeles. ... Read More

BAKERSFIELD, CA – BNSF Railway Co’s. proposal to transfer about 100 Bakersfield employees to the Barstow area could be devastating for many workers and their families. That is why Union leaders and members are opposing the transfer with fierce resistance.

“This bomb was dropped on us about three weeks ago with no advance warning. We were completely blindsided,” said Daryl Smith, president of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, division No. 739. ... Read More

FRESNO, CA – On Sunday, October 17, 2010 a man was killed after walking into the path of a moving freight train in Fresno, CA.

Police investigate accident where a man stepped in front of a moving freight train in Fresno, CA on Sunday, October 17, 2010.

The city of Fresno is in Fresno County, California in the central part of the state, about 172 miles southeast of Sacramento. ... Read More

FONTANA, CA – The conductor of a westbound Union Pacific freight train in Fontana, California was critically injured after crashing into the back of a slow moving freight car that was going in the opposite direction on the same tracks.

Union Pacific train conductor's arm amputated in Fontana, CA train accident. Photo credit: KTLA-TV

The accident happened late Thursday evening, September 9, 2010 at about 11:55 p.m. on the tracks that run alongside Interstate 10 (the San Bernardino Freeway) near the Cherry Avenue exit. ... Read More