FAMILILES OF TRAIN ACCIDENT VICTIMS FILE SUIT AGAINST BNSF

(CAMERON)  The parents of two Yoe High students who were killed in an auto/train accident in January, have filed a wrongful death lawsuit in 20^th District Court against Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad and two of its employees. 

Brian Reinders, 17, and Travis Mueck, 16, were both killed when the pickup they were in was struck by an eastbound BNSF passenger train that was en route to super bowl festivities in Houston.  (See story)  The collision occurred at the Houston Street crossing behind Milam Grain, a crossing that is rarely used by the public, but one that resulted in a fatal accident only 4 years ago.  A Cameron man and a Rockdale man were killed at the same intersection in June of 2000.  (See story)

The Lawsuit, filed last week on behalf of Barbara Smith, Travis’ mother, and Donnie Reinders and Janice Reinders, the parents of Brian, names the railroad, train conductor Jessie Garcia of Mexia, and train engineer Milton Hudson of Temple as defendants.  

The lawsuit was filed by attorney Kevin Glasheen of Lubbock, whose firm has two of the largest judgments in the state in such cases, both against BNSF.  Both involved multiple fatalities, one judgment for $65 million and another for $47 million.