Amtrak engineer Brandon Bostian cleared of charges related to 2015 high-speed crash that left 8 people dead, hundreds injured
CBSN
An Amtrak engineer was cleared of charges related to a deadly, high-speed derailment that left eight people dead and hundreds injured in Philadelphia in 2015. The jury acquitted 38-year-old engineer Brandon Bostian of causing a catastrophe, involuntary manslaughter and reckless endangerment after a little more than an hour of deliberations.
On May 12, 2015, the train, which was traveling from Washington to New York City, rounded a curve at more than twice the speed limit and derailed in north Philadelphia. The train had stopped at Philadelphia's 30th Street station about 10 minutes earlier and was heading north at the time of the deadly derailment.
During the trial, Bostian's lawyer described him as a lifelong train buff who had a perfect work record until he was distracted by people throwing rocks in the area just before the crash. Prosecutors say he acted with reckless disregard for the safety of his passengers.
