Immediate Safety Changes Mandated Following Deadly Amtrak Crash
PHILADELPHIA (WJZ)—The federal government is mandating Amtrak make some immediate safety changes in the wake of this week's deadly train crash in Philadelphia.
As new video surfaces of the speeding train, Derek Valcourt has more on the safety changes.
New security camera video of the moment Amtrak train 188 met its tragic end, derailing as it approached a sharp curve at over 100 mph.
Now as the crash investigation continues-- the federal railroad administration issues new orders telling Amtrak it must use automatic train control technology on any trains passing the derailment site.
That technology detects when a train is traveling above the speed limit if the engineer doesn't slow the train, the technology does it automatically.
Amtrak must assess speeds approaching curves and add more speed limit signs. The mandates come as the FBI has now been asked to investigate damage to the windshield of train 188's engine to determine if an object struck the train.
"What damage patterns to that windshield we are having the FBI look at there is a circular pattern that emanates out just a bit," said Robert Sumwalt, NTSB.
Two other trains in the same area both appear to have been hit by what witnesses describe as a projectile type object shortly before the crash.
The engineer told investigators he doesn't fully remember what happened leading up to the crash that injured 200 people and killed 8 including 3 with close ties to Maryland.
Mourners gathered in New York Saturday to pay tribute to 39 year old Rachel Jacobs.
Attorneys have also filed the first of many expected lawsuits from the crash...
"The fact that this train was going twice the speed limit in a 50mph zone, a 106mph. whether its human error or machine error, whatever the case is, Amtrak is responsible no matter what," said Michael Olley, Attorney.
Early checks indicate there was no malfunctioning of the train equipment, or any of the rail equipment.. For now speed appears to be the focus of the investigation.
Amtrak says they're hoping to have their rail lines re-opened early this week.