KGMI News
DUPONT, Wash. – It could be a year before the National Transportation Safety Board releases the findings of its investigation into last month’s deadly Amtrak train derailment in DuPont.
But, former train engineer John Hiatt, who investigates rail accidents for a law firm that has sued Amtrak in the past said he’s talked to employees, and they question Amtrak’s commitment to safety.
“Safety culture is shot, and they’re poised for failure,” Hiatt said.
The train was on its inaugural run along a faster route when it sped into a curve going nearly 80 mph in a 30 mph zone.
12 passenger cars and the front engine went off the tracks and crashed down onto I-5, killing three people.
Amtrak has said it trained employees on the new route, but Hiatt says the training was done at night and some crew were put in the rear locomotive, facing backward.
“It’s like riding in the trunk of a car to learn to drive. It doesn’t make any sense at all,” Hiatt said.
Hiatt said another possible contributing factor is that engineers often see flashing warning lights heading into a curve telling them to slow down, but this stretch of track had a static warning sign two miles ahead of the curve.