A Three-Train Crash In Pennsylvania

On March 2nd, 2024, at 7:11 a.m., a major rail accident occurred near Easton, Pennsylvania, along the Lehigh River, when three Norfolk Southern trains were involved in a collision. This incident began when an eastbound train struck the rear of a stationary train on the same track. This initial impact caused three railcars from the striking train to derail onto a nearby, parallel track.

Moments later, a second collision occurred when a westbound Norfolk Southern train, traveling on the parallel track, struck the derailed cars. This also caused it to derail six freight cars and two locomotives, which ended up in the Lehigh River.

Probable Cause And Contributing Factors

Fortunately, all of the crew members involved sustained only minor injuries, but the collision posed serious environmental risks. Diesel fuel leaked into the river from the two submerged locomotives, but it was quickly contained by emergency crews responding. Following the crash, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) launched an investigation.

They concluded that the crash was caused by the crew’s failure to obey restricted speed rules. The engineer of the first train did not travel slowly enough to stop within half the visible distance ahead, which caused limited reaction time in stopping.

Other contributing factors to the crash included:

• Human error and insufficient safety
• Limited vision of the track due to obstacles
• Limitations of Positive Train Control (PTC), a safety system designed to prevent train accidents caused by human error. They use radio communication to monitor movements and can detect potential hazards.

The hazardous contents that spilled into the river were ultimately contained, but emergency personnel were still required to mitigate the situation.

This incident highlights the need for railroads to strengthen safety protocols, particularly by upgrading the technologies they use in PTC. Railroad companies are responsible for ensuring that their crew members comply with speed limits. If such rules are violated or negligence leads to an accident, injured individuals may have grounds for legal action.

How Lowenthal & Abrams Could Help

The March 2nd, 2024, Easton, Pennsylvania collision revealed serious safety deficiencies and environmental risks. With PTC unable to compensate for their failures, railroads must modernize their systems. Legal counsel must also be ready to guide the victims through the process and allow them to seek compensation.

At Lowenthal & Abrams, our dedicated injury attorneys are uniquely positioned to help victims in transportation accidents, especially railroad liability and environmental damage. If you or someone you know was affected by this incident or another railroad incident, do not wait to seek action. Contact our office today.