LAKELAND, Fla. — A national injury law firm has filed suit against three trucking companies and a driver over the collision that derailed an Amtrak train July 14 in Lakeland, sending eight people to the hospital for treatment of injuries.
WFLA-TV reports the suit was filed against Lastre Auto Transport, M&L Auto Transport, and Betan Auto Transport, the companies whose vehicles were being transported by a truck struck by the Silver Star at a grade crossing, derailing the train’s lead locomotive.
The suit says the driver did not operate his truck in a “reasonably safe manner” and that the companies failed to properly vet the driver before hiring or should have known he was “likely to operate the truck in a negligent manner.”
Attorneys for the firm Morgan & Morgan said 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.” The suit lists 14 plaintiffs seeking monetary damages in excess of $50,000.
Some 163 passengers and 10 crew members were on board when the train struck the truck. The Silver Star was reportedly traveling 78 mph at the time of the collision [see “Silver Star locomotive derails …,” Trains News Wire, July 14, 2023].
WSTP-TV reports authorities reported truck driver Walberto Carrazano Bermudez and passenger Jose Luis Lahera Vidal both jumped out of the truck after it became stuck on the grade crossing and before it was struck by the train.
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