Jury awards train conductor $1.5M in derailment accident
Railroad company failed to send out inspectors following heavy rains, flooding
A West River jury awarded $1.5 million Friday to a train conductor who was injured after his train was derailed in an accident.
Kenneth Petersen was one of two employees of the Rapid City, Pierre & Eastern Railroad who was hurt when their train derailed on a hill near New Underwood, South Dakota in the early morning hours of Aug. 2, 2019. Petersen and train engineer Michael Hendrickson were traveling eastbound in the lead locomotive after departing from Rapid City after midnight.
A portion of track near New Underwood had washed out following heavy rains and flash flooding. The National Weather Service in Rapid City had issued a flash flood warning for the afternoon and evening in southwestern South Dakota. At 10:41 on the night of Aug. 1, the National Weather Service issued another warning that flash flooding was expected in the area where the derailment occurred.
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