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Monday, February 23, 2004 |
http://www.borderlandnews.com/stories/borderland/20040223-84761.shtml
Borderland Monday, February 23, 2004
Federal agency, union inspect fatal train wreck
Louie Gilot
El Paso Times
The deadly collision of two Union Pacific freight trains in Carrizozo, N.M., that killed two El Pasoans on Saturday morning is being investigated by a federal agency and a national union, officials said.
The wreck killed train engineer Anthony C. Rodella, 57, of the 4200 block of Siete Leguas in the Upper Valley, who was driving the locomotive; and conductor Jeffrey S. Bohler, 32, whose address was unknown, Union Pacific officials said Sunday.
Rodella had been with Union Pacific since 1973 and Bohler since 1998, company spokesman John Bromley said.
People at the Rodella home declined to comment to the El Paso Times, while the Bohler family could not be located.
The National Transportation Safety Board, which is charged by Congress with investigating train wrecks resulting in deaths, took over the investigation Sunday morning, Bromley said.
Bryan Cartall, a lawyer for the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, based in Cleveland, was in El Paso on Sunday to visit the Rodella and Bohler families. He said the union, which just merged with the Teamsters, is conducting its own investigation.
"Union Pacific is running so short on manpower that they have only a third of the engineers they need. Fatigue is common. Fatigue is a factor in any railroad accident," Cartall said.
Union Pacific officials told the El Paso Times that they are working to correct manpower problems by trying to hire 3,000 employees this year, as they did last year. They would not comment on the possibility that one of the train drivers was fatigued.
Saturday, the empty train carrying Rodella and Bohler was en route from Mira Loma, Calif., to Kansas, officials said. It was moving onto a sidetrack in Carrizozo at about 8 a.m. when it collided with a train carrying grain headed from Kansas to El Paso.
Cartall said trains move to sidetracks when engineers have worked the maximum continuous hours allowed by law -- 12. The engineers then wait for a replacement crew to take over. This is a common occurrence on long stretches in the Southwest, Cartall said.
Investigators will also look into the possibility of an equipment malfunction, Union Pacific officials said.
Union Pacific workers had to replace about 800 feet of track before reopening the tracks at about 5:30 a.m. Sunday, Bromley said. The cars that weren't damaged were sent to their original destinations.
Louie Gilot may be reached at lgilot@elpasotimes.com, 546-6131.
Copyright © 2001 El Paso Times.
Use of this site signifies your agreement to the Terms of Service (updated 8/10/2001)
1:06:04 PM 
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Subject: Wake-Up Call
Got this from a conductor I know in LA. Looks like Ollie is at it again...
Look how "Ollie" Cromwell signed this - "Yours Truly"!
Sent: Tuesday, February 17, 2004 2:12 PM
10:30:24 AM
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