Teen caused train derailment so he could post a video of it online, US officials say

A teenager is accused of intentionally causing a train derailment in Nebraska, then recording it and posting the video online.

Around 6.10pm on April 21, a BNSF train derailed in Bennet, according to KHGI. Two locomotives and five rail cars came off the rail, but stayed upright.

A 17-year-old boy was at the scene and recorded the derailment, according to KOLN.

The teen, who referred to himself as a train enthusiast, reported the derailment to authorities. During the investigation, he asked officials what caused the derailment, the news outlet reported.

When officials told him they didn’t know the cause, he said “obviously a switch was flipped the wrong way,” according to court records, KOLN reported.

The conductor of the train later told a BNSF investigator that a switch had been misaligned. This caused the train to veer off the eastbound track and onto an industry track, the Lincoln Journal Star reported.

“The train went into emergency stop but was unable to stop before going through the switch location,” BNSF Police Investigator Thomas McCaslin said in a search warrant, according to the news outlet.

After reviewing surveillance footage, investigators saw who they believed to be the 17-year-old walking toward the switch then walking back to his vehicle before the derailment, KHGI reported.

In another angle of surveillance footage, the teen is then seen parking his car, getting out and setting up a tripod near where the coal train derailed, according to the Lincoln Journal Star.

A video of the derailment was later posted on YouTube on a page that authorities believe to be associated with the teen, according to KHGI. The teen also shared the video with KOLN.

A search warrant was issued for investigators to review video evidence from the boy’s phone and a digital camera, KOLNreported.

BNSF officials confirmed to McClatchy News that one person was arrested but did not provide any additional details.

McClatchy News reached out to Lancaster County Attorney Patrick Condon, who said the case is being filed in juvenile court and the suspect’s name cannot be released, but that he is not currently detained.

“My office will file a motion to transfer the case to adult court and it will be up to the juvenile court Judge to transfer the case or have it remain in juvenile court,” Condon said.

The damage from the derailment is estimated at roughly US$350,000 (RM1.63mil), news outlets reported. – The Charlotte Observer/Tribune News Service