The incident happened just before 7 a.m. on a day in early August. According to reports, a 45-year-old man drove a van onto train tracks. The man allegedly ignored several warnings that a train was coming. Reports indicate that the intersection was equipped with several safety tools, including crossbucks, lights, gates, and bells.
Video of the incident reportedly shows the man leaving the van just before a train enters the intersection. Unfortunately, two teenage passengers in the van were seriously injured when the train struck it. One, a 16-year-old male, reportedly died as a result of injuries suffered in the accident. The driver now faces criminal charges, including second-degree vehicular homicide and improper stopping on railroad tracks.
The loss of a family member is always a tragedy, regardless of the circumstances. However, such a loss as a result of a preventable accident can seem even more devastating. While the family members of the deceased teen are coming to terms with his death, they may also face a complicated financial situation. Many families who have experienced such a loss have opted to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the parties deemed responsible. Those suffering injuries in an accident — as the second passenger did — also have the option to pursue recompense in a civil court in Georgia.
