NTSB hearing on 2011 Nevada Amtrak crash probable cause

Tue, Dec 11, 2012 (4:14 a.m.)

The National Transportation Safety Board is ready to determine who or what's to blame for last year's fatal crash between a truck and an Amtrak train that left six people dead at a rural crossing 70 miles east of Reno.

The panel is to hear presentations from investigators at NTSB headquarters in Washington on Tuesday before rendering a formal probable cause ruling. Hurricane Sandy forced postponement of the original hearing date.

Federal experts determined earlier that a truck driver skidded nearly 300 feet before slamming into the side of the train in June 2011, killing him, a crew member and four passengers.

NTSB's preliminary findings in September offered conflicting accounts of whether the guard crossing arm failed to operate correctly of whether the 43-year-old truck driver just wasn't paying attention.

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