LINCOLN, Neb. — An 18-year-old accused of derailing a BNSF train last April will be tried as an adult after a Nebraska court turned down his appeal of the decision to move his case out of juvenile court.
KLKN-TV reports juvenile court Judge Roger Heideman ruled last August that Zachary Hertzler, 18, should be charged as an adult because the April 22 incident in Bennet, Neb., could have been a “catastrophic event.” Hertzler was 17 at the time of the derailment, and Heideman said his age was also a factor, since juvenile court authority will end when he is 19.
The appeals court upheld that decision after Hertzler’s attorneys appealed, citing his clean record.
Two locomotives and five cars of a loaded coal train struck an empty railcar and derailed, causing an estimated $350,000 in damage [see “BNSF police believe teen intentionally caused …,” Trains News Wire, July 22, 2024]. Court documents, which say Hertzler is a self-proclaimed rail enthusiast, charge he threw a switch to cause the derailment, recorded video of the incident on his cellphone, and posted it on YouTube.
You tube should monitor what it posts
It’s sad to think that people still think the feds would be involved.
Maybe if fatalities or an explosion was involved . In this case locals solved it so case closed All the previous coverage on thefts from trains is a federal crime also but you don’t see them out there helping Gov Newsom cleaning up the remnants of the UP thefts in California.
How is this not a Federal case of sabotage of Interstate Commerce?
It definitely is a Federal Crime unless Train Wrecking has been deleted from the federal code without my knowing it. Also, it was one that allowed for a death sentence the last I heard–although that wouldn’t apply in this case since there were no fatalities.
I’m not sure how he will get his just reward in federal prison on state charges. At least in Nebraska he is being charged.
More evidence of what social media is doing to the minds of our youth
Example: The You Tuber who was a flying enthusiast who faked a stalled engine and jumped out (on camera) and watch his plane crash. All for more views.
FAA found him at fault for the crash and he will never fly again.
A true idiot will get his just reward in Federal Prison.
Like railfans, there are actually some YT “Creators” who are credible. Then, there are the others. Like the one wandering the streets of a well-known Tennessee town that I refuse to go to because of.
As for this guy being a “railfan”? Not likely. As for him being a YT “Creator”? Even YT has its “standards”. And they will pull-down a video if need be. There are also creators who’ve “vanished” from the service.
I hope they throw the book at him. What he did was idiotic, dangerous, and all for what? A higher view count on Youtube / internet cred? Did he really think he was going to get away with it!?
This guy is all sorts of stupid, and gives real railfans a bad name.
I am rather confident that actual “rail enthusiasts” do not derail trains, for video, or any other, purposes.
Im pretty sure a good chunk of us who would’ve seen a clearly misaligned switch like that would’ve called the railroad if it could be helped. Or..ironically..filmed the resulting crash BUT doing so in order to have documentation for the police.
LAURENCE: I am rather confident that actual “parents” know when their kids get so fouled up.
You sure about that Charles? There are a lot of “so called” parents who have no idea what their kids are doing and probably don’t care as long as it does not interrupt their extracurricular activities, whatever they may be… Maybe the parents should go to jail with them!