Investigators Still Looking for the Cause of Saturday’s Plane Crash

Scott Kappes — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 15:29:12 GMT

Two days after the Houston bound Continental flight 1404 violently veered off the runway and burst into flames during takeoff, investigators are still sorting through the wreckage and searching for the cause. Fortunately no fatalities were suffered in the accident; however, several passengers did suffer broken bones and other injuries. In all at least 38 passengers we injured in the crash. All 107 passengers and 5 crew members safely escaped from the burning wreckage on emergency slides.

The National Transportation Safety Board has recovered cockpit voice recorders from the crash site, which will hopefully offer much needed insight into what may have caused the accident. The FAA has not offered an explanation as why the incident may have occurred, citing “unknown circumstances.”

The weather in Denver at the time of the accident, about 6:20 pm, was cold, but no snow was falling and roads to and from the airport were dry.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Scott Kappes

Train Crash Victims’ Families Awarded $24 Million

Scott Kappes — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 13:46:05 GMT

On Friday a Minnesota jury handed down a $24 million dollar judgment to the families of four people who lost their lives in a 2003 Anoka train accident. Each of the families will receive $6 million, for a total of $24 million. The families of Brian Frazier, Harry Rhoades, Bridgette Shannon and Corey Chase against Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway (BNSF) after it was suspected that train company withheld vital information about the case from investigators.

The original investigation determined Frazier drove his car around the gates and into the path of the train where it was struck, killing all four occupants. Attorneys for the plaintiffs argued that the gates did not come down as the train approached the intersection and that BASF concealed this information from investigators.

"For four and a half years Burlington North Santa Fe has allowed us to believe that our son was driving the car, that he broke the law and went around the crossing arm and caused his own death and the death of his own friends," said Christie Frazier, Brian’s mother.

The railway maintains that Frazier ignored the warning signals and that they “acted properly” throughout the investigation. In a statement BNSF expressed their disappointment with the verdict and sympathy for the families of the victims, but also announced that they plan to appeal the verdict.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Scott Kappes

Houston Personal Injury Lawyer - Mass Transit (Airline, Cruise Ship, Train, Bus)

Investigators Still Looking for the Cause of Saturday’s Plane Crash

Train Crash Victims’ Families Awarded $24 Million