Track fixed, road to reopen
By Bill Scanlon, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Published June 11, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.
Updated June 11, 2008 at 1:33 p.m.
Photo by Silvia Razgova, Special to the Rocky
Workers clean up the debris from the freight train derailment in Westminster.
Westminster police are hoping to have both lanes of northbound Wadsworth Parkway open by this afternoon's rush hour, following rather smooth cleanup operations from Monday night's train derailment.
The tracks are cleared, and a train is expected to rumble by this afternoon.
Debris and some of the twisted and mangled railroad cars probably won't be cleared from the Burlington-Northern tracks east of the parkway for another seven to 10 days, Westminster police investigator Trevor Materasso said.
When Burlington Northern railroad men saw the big tree lying across the tracks in Westminster, they tried their best to brake, but also thought the locomotive's "cowcatcher" would knock the tree out of the way.
But part of the tree got caught in a switch on the tracks, so instead of pushing it aside, the locomotive "ran up on top of it," causing the chain reaction that led to the derailment of the 37-car train, a spokesman for Burlington-Northern Santa Fe said today.
"A little guard in the front of the locomotive normally would have helped knock something out of the way," the railroad's spokesman Steve Forsberg said. "It was an unusual set of circumstances."
The derailment caused extensive damage and left several cars twisted and mangled just to the east of the track that parallels Wadsworth Parkway. The derailment occurred between West 92nd and 98th avenues.
Burlington-Northern is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the people who may have intentionally put the tree on the tracks, he said.
It also is distributing about 100 flyers in nearby neighborhoods, hoping to get the word out about the reward.
The number to call is 1-800-832-5452.
Tipsters also can call CrimeStoppers at 720-913-STOP.
Westminster police and investigators from the railroad say there are indications that the tree had at least once previously been placed on the tracks but had been removed.
Forsberg said he doesn't know the exact girth and weight of the tree but was told it would have taken at least two or three people to pick it up and put it on the tracks.
Just three employees were on the train, which was hauling grain, lumber and construction materials, Forsberg said. One of the men suffered a minor injury.
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June 11, 2008
12:16 a.m.
Suggest removal
nicktaste writes:
whoever did that is a total jerk
karma is a mofo
June 11, 2008
1:52 a.m.
Suggest removal
happymike44 writes:
This jerk really screwed up now because if the feds catch up with them.
It will be a really long federal prison sentence for them.
Hope they enjoy all the new roommates and all the community showers and the nice prison jumpsuit.
Everyone gets the same outfit so it will be hard for them to standout fromthe crowd.
Hope they enjoy the fashionable footwear they will get to wear.
Also hope they enjoy the community underwear pool.
June 11, 2008
7:30 a.m.
Suggest removal
LingLingfor_prez writes:
Lock them up in solitary forever. I don't care what happens to them once they find out who it is. Goods going by rail has been in demand with the gas prices what they are and this does not help the local economy any.
June 11, 2008
7:34 a.m.
Suggest removal
Scott writes:
Soon to be heard at a federal prison, "Hey Big Willie, Bubba & Ben Over, you've got some fresh meat!" That would actually be too easy for this garbage.
Scott
June 11, 2008
7:59 a.m.
Suggest removal
windbourne writes:
My bet? either kids or somebody who lives along the line and wanted to force the train to go elsewhere.
June 11, 2008
8:14 a.m.
Suggest removal
The_Punnisher writes:
That is what happens when you graduate from cow tipping and outhouse tipping....you move into the heavy stuff....
D.A.R.E. to be stupid!
These idiots need to jump off that stump...with a rope around their necks....
June 11, 2008
8:35 a.m.
Suggest removal
buffsblg writes:
Likely kids (or the developmental equivalent, not everyone grows up) who did not think ahead enough to realize the true danger of what they did or really did not care. If they are adults, sentencing on potential State charges cap out at about 12 years (unlikely for a property crime unless there are priors). If the railroad guys are seriously injured, then the stakes go up. Federal charges may be more and the two cases can be stacked. Pure luck no one hurt more seriously.
June 11, 2008
8:36 a.m.
Suggest removal
Cowboy63 writes:
I'll bet this is someone right next to the tracks. Probably some disgruntled old man who is sick of the trains going by his place at 10:30 at night. Of course, he did see the track there when he bought the house in the first place.
If the cops removed the stump at 8:30 and it was back at 10:30 - someone close saw it was removed and put it back. They won't have to look far to find this guy.
What an idiot!
June 11, 2008
8:46 a.m.
Suggest removal
SLAP writes:
I bet it was kids....probably wanting to watch the stump get demolished. They probably had no idea the train would derail. They are hiding in their parents basement right now.
June 11, 2008
8:54 a.m.
Suggest removal
Cowboy63 writes:
Whoever did it needs to be FOUND!
They have no idea how stupid and dangerous this is. The fact that they went BACK calls for the stiffest punishment allowed.
June 11, 2008
9:11 a.m.
Suggest removal
DahmersCookbook writes:
Police will likely find what they need on YouTube in months to come.
June 11, 2008
10:09 a.m.
Suggest removal
mytwosense writes:
What kind of person would do such a thing? I just can't relate to the mindset someone would have to be in to cause such calculated destruction.
Maybe it was a kid, maybe it wasn't. If the former, I could not just chalk this up to kids being stupid. There is a difference between pulling a relatively harmless prank, and then doing something like this. Most kids would know there's a difference.
June 11, 2008
10:10 a.m.
Suggest removal
RealifeTauren writes:
Any Railroad is a Federal entity, and any Railroad land is Federal land. Any crime that happens on the railroad is a Federal crime. There is no State penalty for these idiots. If they are caught, and I certainly hope they are, they will be charged in the Federal system and will do time in a Federal prison. This is not going to easy for them, lol. Aside from the fact that they could have killed the crew, the damage is going to be extensive.
June 11, 2008
10:34 a.m.
Suggest removal
buffsblg writes:
Not true Tauren. railroad property is not federal property, but interferring with a railroad is a federal crime with which the state has concurrent jurisdiction. The two are not, in most cases, mutually exclusive. This moron (or more than one) can get nailed by both.
June 11, 2008
12:22 p.m.
Suggest removal
Ztliano writes:
OMFG, Republican's will prolly blame the terrorists. Hmm, was bin Laden behind this???? LOL. Whoever it was, was un-kewl.
June 11, 2008
12:25 p.m.
Suggest removal
Marshdale writes:
Why?
June 11, 2008
1:18 p.m.
Suggest removal
happymike44 writes:
So some idiot screwed up everybody's day by doing this.
How about tying him to a railroad track and then leave him there.
It seems since they like trains so much maybe this could really give them their first railroad expierence to enjoy. By the way it is federal and they will get to spend quality time. With dope dealers and child perverts and let me tell you a whole lot of male bonding will be going on.
They will get to share underwear from the community pool of clothes. Also the jumpsuits will really meet their fashion needs.
No need to worry about you are going to wear it's all planned out for you.
June 11, 2008
1:21 p.m.
Suggest removal
Dude writes:
if he gets Rev. Acen Phillips layer, he will get off scott free..
June 11, 2008
4:05 p.m.
Suggest removal
HolierThanThou writes:
A perfect penalty would be to shackle the perp(s) to the front of a speeding locomotive and invite all the idiots in Colorado to race the train to the next crossing for a hundred dollars.
June 11, 2008
5:04 p.m.
Suggest removal
jreiter writes:
I have the perfect punishment for these clowns. I first thought make them part of a track gang replacing ties in the hot sun. But now that I think about that, that is pretty much done by machine now. Then I thought, hmmm I see some many engines that need a bath. Make them wash locomotives. Numerous locomotives. By hand. They don't get to use the power washer. That would be a good start. And I see numerous train cars that need grafiti cleaned off. Then make them do some public service speaking to High Schoolers as to how railroad tracks are private property and trespassing is illegal. I really hope that they are caught. And if I were them, I wouldn't be worried about what the local Police are gonna do, I would be worried about what BNSF Special Agents will do. Bummer to have to pay for the damaged locomotives, the cars, the track, the salaries of the first responders, the delays BNSF has to cover because they couldn't use their line north etc. Hmmmm. Would love to be a fly on the wall when BNSF hands them their a$$ in civil court and you better believe they will. Good ol ATSF isn't one to loose money.
June 11, 2008
5:30 p.m.
Suggest removal
MeAgainstMachine writes:
Happymike - What is your deal when it comes to man love in prison? You make the same comment more or less about every criminal. I bet you like to play leap frog with unicorns...
June 11, 2008
5:48 p.m.
Suggest removal
NotUrFriend writes:
Terrible, unreasonable. Its a senseless childish, stupid crime to commit and it risked injuring many. I only hope the person is captured and that the duration of sentancing is equitable to the crime. Meaning, long, 'hard' and unpleasant.
Plenty of time to read while the persons in there. Helps pass the time.
Isaac