Railroad Accident Investigation Involving Two Freight Trains near Goodwell, OK.

Investigative Hearing: Railroad Accident Investigation Involving Two Freight Trains
2/26/2013

On June 24, 2012, at about 10:00 a.m., an eastbound and a westbound UP freight train collided while operating on a straight track near Goodwell. As a result of the crash, three of the four crewmembers aboard the two trains were fatally injured. The fourth crewmember jumped from the locomotive prior to the collision and survived with no major injuries. Fuel tanks from the derailed locomotives were ruptured and created a diesel-fed fire. Damages were estimated at $14.79 million.

Although this investigation is still ongoing, factual information indicates that if positive train control had been in use, the safety technology designed to supplement the human operation of trains, it could have prevented the collision. The Board will also examine UP's management of human error in its operations as well as system safety programs.

Parties to the investigation include: the FRA, Union Pacific Railroad, United Transportation Union and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen.

Railroad investigator Jim Southworth will serve as the Investigator-in-Charge. NTSB Board Member Mark Rosekind is accompanying the team and will serve as the principal spokesman during the on-scene phase of the investigation.

NTSB public events are also streamed live via webcast. Webcasts are archived for a period of three months from the time of the meeting. Webcast archives are generally available by the end of the event day for public Meetings, and by the end of the next day for Technical conferences.

If you wish to obtain a copy of NTSB meetings, please contact the NTSB Records Management Division at (202) 314-6551 or 800-877-6799. You may also request this information from the NTSB web site or write the following: National Transportation Safety Board, Records Management Division (CIO-40), 490 L'Enfant Plaza, SW,Washington, DC 20594.

NTSB Media Briefing on the Investigation of Two Freight Trains that Collided In Oklahoma.	NTSB Second Media Briefing on the Investigation of Two Freight Trains that Collided In Oklahoma	NTSB recorders expert Doug Brazy briefs Member Rosekind at the scene of the Union Pacific freight train accident.
NTSB recorders expert Doug Brazy briefs Member Rosekind while at the accident scene involving two freight trains that collided outside Goodwell, Oklahoma.	NTSB rail investigator Richard Hipskind working on scene in Oklahoma, where two Union Pacific freight trains collided.	NTSB rail investigator Timothy DePaepe testing signals in the area of the collision involving two freight trains near Goodwell, OK.
Robert Grimaila, Union Pacific Railroad's vice president for safety, answers questions from NTSB board members during Tuesday's investigative hearing.

Reports

Preliminary Report

Accident Docket

NTSB ID Number: DCA12MR005 June 24, 2012 Goodwell, OK, United States

Presentations

Press Releases

NTSB Announces Agenda for the Goodwell, OK Rail Investigative Hearing (2/22/2013)
NTSB to convene hearing on 2012 head-on train crash in Oklahoma(2/12/2013)
NTSB To Hold Media Briefing on the Investigation of Two Freight Trains that Collided In Oklahoma (June 25, 2012)
NTSB Launches to Accident Involving Two Freight Trains in Oklahoma (June 24, 2012)

Media Contact: Terry Williams,202-314-6100 (NTSB HQ)