(Reno, Nevada – November 29, 2011)
In an embroiling legal battle which has ensued from the June 24 grade crossing tragedy in which a semi-trailer truck collided with Amtrak’s “California Zephyr” at the Union Pacific Railroad crossing of U.S. Highway 95 east of Reno, NV, John Davis Trucking, of Battle Mountain, NV, owner of the truck, has filed suit against both Amtrak and UPRR in U.S. District Court in Reno, NV.
JDT driver Lawrence Vali was one of five who died in the accident.
All three entities (UPRR, Amtrak and Davis Trucking) have now filed suits, mostly against one another, in federal district court.
In advance of a National Transportation Safety Board investigation scheduled for release sometime next year, the suit was filed in federal court, while a number of suits against the trucking company have been filed in Washoe District Court.
John Davis Trucking Co. charges that “As a result of the railroad companies’ alleged ‘failure to exercise due care with respect to the railroad crossing, Vali was inadequately warned resulting in him being unable to stop the truck he was operating at the time to avoid colliding with the AMTRAK TRAIN,’ which was traveling more than 75 mph.”
The truck was valued in excess of $120,000 according to documents filed in defense of the company in relation to the suits filed on behalf of four passengers and crew who died, as well as several others who were injured.
