WASHINGTON – Brandon Bostian of Queens, New York, the Amtrak engineer, who drove “Train 188’’ before its lethal derailment near the eastern U.S. city of Philadelphia, said he could not recall the accident.
Robert Goggin, his lawyer, said on Thursday in Washington that Bostian had absolutely no recollection of the incident or anything unusual” and “no explanation’’ for how the crash happened.
Goggin said his client, who suffered a concussion and leg injuries in the crash, had voluntarily turned over a blood sample and his cell phone and is cooperating with authorities.
Seven people died during or shortly after Tuesday’s violent accident, and more than 200 people of the 243 on board were injured.
All seven cars and the engine left the tracks and crumpled into a jumble of metal and parts.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said the train was speeding at 170 kph, twice the 80 kph limit of the dangerous curve.
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It said the 32-year-old Bostian had pulled the emergency brake, but the board was still investigating what caused the accident, whether it was human or mechanical problems.
Michael Nutter, Philadelphia Mayor, lashed out against Bostian that it was reckless of him as an engineer to be going that fast into the curve.
“I don’t know what is going on with him. I don’t know what is going on in the cab, but there’s really no excuse that can be offered, literally, unless he had a heart attack,’’ he said. (dpa/NAN)
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