A lawsuit has been filed against three trucking companies involved in a recent crash between an Amtrak train and a car hauler.
The accident happened on Friday, July 14th after the car hauler got stuck on train tracks at Canal Avenue North, just south of US 92 in Lakeland, Florida.
According to WTSP 10 News, the train conductor began blowing the train horn when he saw the truck on the tracks, and the crossing arms came down on the truck’s trailer. The truck driver, Walberto Carrazana Bermudez, and his passenger, Jose Luis Lahera Vidal, were able to jump out of the truck before the collision.
There were 163 passengers and 10 crew members on the train at the time of the crash. Eight of those people were transported to the hospital with injuries. The lawsuit has been filed on behalf of the people hurt in the incident against the three trucking companies that owned the vehicles being transported by the truck.
The suit claims that the crash was caused by the “alleged negligence of the driver.”
“The catastrophic derailment caused by the alleged negligence of the driver not only injured dozens of people but also disrupted train service for thousands of customers and caused massive delays,” attorneys with Morgan & Morgan said in a statement. “We’re committed to holding those responsible accountable for their actions and omissions that led to this incident.
As the Polk County Sheriff’s Office continues their full and thorough investigation of the crash, we look forward to working with them as we conduct our investigation to bring justice to these victims.”