Judge Orders Treatment for Man who Caused Ohio Train Collision
7/8/2009 -
An Ohio man who caused two Norfolk Southern Railway trains to collide and derail last year as they tried to avoid hitting him must pay the railroad $4,127 and undergo alcohol and drug treatment, a Columbiana County Common Pleas Court judge ordered last week.
Eight rail cars derailed when a train stopped suddenly to avoid hitting Gary D. Smith, 58, as he stood on the tracks. A second train then hit the first one from behind on the same line.
Smith pleaded guilty to interference with the operation of a train, which is a felony, and agreed to undergo alcohol and drug treatment. The judge gave him the option of four years of treatment or a conviction that could include jail time.
The derailment caused several grade crossings to be closed off from traffic in Salem, Ohio, while the derailed cars were removed.
Contact: Susan Terpay, Norfolk Southern, (757) 823-5204.
Eight rail cars derailed when a train stopped suddenly to avoid hitting Gary D. Smith, 58, as he stood on the tracks. A second train then hit the first one from behind on the same line.
Smith pleaded guilty to interference with the operation of a train, which is a felony, and agreed to undergo alcohol and drug treatment. The judge gave him the option of four years of treatment or a conviction that could include jail time.
The derailment caused several grade crossings to be closed off from traffic in Salem, Ohio, while the derailed cars were removed.
Contact: Susan Terpay, Norfolk Southern, (757) 823-5204.
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