TRAIN
TAPES REVEAL CROSSED MESSAGES
(As reported in Daily Herald)
By Justin Kmitch
February 8, 2001
Attorneys
searching for the cause of a Jan. 9 train crash that injured
three people at a Bloomingdale crossing believe they have
uncovered the most critical piece of evidence for their
case.
Tape
recordings of communications between an Illinois Central
Railroad dispatcher and the train crew reveal a miscommunication
between dispatcher Robert Haas and the conductor that attorneys
say caused a freight train to hit an SUV and injure its
occupants.
The
audiotapes were released to news media Wednesday at a press
conference in Chicago.
Shortly
before the noon crash, signal maintainer Ken Roberts can
be heard telling Haas that previously malfunctioning rail
crossings at Schmale and Wolf roads had been repaired. But
Roberts made no mention of the Army Trail Road crossing
just west of Gary Avenue that neighbors say had been malfunctioning
for weeks.
Because
of the malfunctioning gates, all train crews passing through
the crossing were ordered to "stop and protect"
the crossing as the train slowly rolled through. That means
crew members were supposed to get off the train and flag
traffic.
On
the recording, however, Haas can be told telling the train's
crew members that the Army Trail Road crossing "has
been repaired."
"Haas
clearly had no right to tell the conductor and engineer
that they shouldn't stop at Army Trail if he didn't know
the crossing was working properly," said attorney Tim
Cavanagh, who is representing victims Francisca and Fidel
Velarde, both 72 and from Addison, in a civil suit.
"Had
conductor Dallas Harken not been told that he did not have
to stop, this accident would not have happened."
Not
long after being told they no longer had to stop and protect
the crossing, the crew drove the train through the intersection
at speeds near 50 mph when it hit the vehicle.
Hours
after the accident, Haas can be heard telling an unidentified
man that "I got to looking up, and I don't see my piece
of paper telling me what I did and I guess I screwed up."
Canadian
National/Illinois Central Railroad spokesman Jack Burke
said the railroad is not disputing anything that was said
on the tapes, but said he is not convinced Haas' statement
that he "screwed up" was related to the miscommunication
that caused the crash.
"(Haas)
could have been talking about a number of things,"
Burke said. "But I'm not going to speak for him."
Burke
would not comment on Haas' employment status with the railroad,
but did say that "appropriate action has been taken
based on the findings of our investigation."
The
railroad is expected to report to the Federal Railroad Administration
on the findings of its investigation.
The
civil case, however is pending in Cook County circuit court.
Cavanagh said he hopes to have the trial under way before
the end of the year.
All
three occupants of the vehicle are still recovering from
their injuries. Francisca Velarde suffered a closed head
injury, and doctors say she suffers from post concussion
syndrome. Her husband, Fidel, also suffered a closed head
injury, a torn aorta, fractured ribs and is having surgery
next week to remove fluid from his brain.
The
driver of the vehicle, the Velardes' daughter, Lilia Apuello,
39, of Carol Stream, suffered a broken arm.
