NTSB to Hold Crash Hearings

The National Transportation Safety Board will hold public hearings Sept. 13 to 15 in Chicago to analyze the March crash involving an Amtrak passenger train and a steel-laden tractor-trailer that occurred in Bourbonnais, Ill.

The accident left 11 dead, 122 injured and resulted in damages in excess of $14 million.

It also led to increased scrutiny on two truck safety issues: the effectiveness of the commercial driver license system in keeping bad drivers off the road and the safety of railroad grade crossings.

John Stokes, the driver of the truck, was operating on a probationary license at the time of the crash. Illinois authorities had suspended his CDL in January for 60 days because of speeding violations.

But questions arose about that suspension after the accident when it was discovered that he had several more traffic infractions that were not known to the judge who issued his provisional permit.

Jesse White, who as Illinois’ Secretary of State administers driver licensing, tried to revoke Stokes’ CDL after the accident only to discover he lacked the authority to do so.

Stokes’ license was later suspended a second time and he was fined by the federal government for unrelated violations. His CDL was fully reinstated in August (8-9, p. 3).

For the full story, see the Sept. 13 print edition of Transport Topics. Subscribe today.