Sleeping Drivers Caused New York, Chicago Train Crashes: NTSB

|
Irvin Jackson

Add Your Comments

Federal safety investigators indicate that sleep deprivation was a contributing factor in two recent commuter train crashes, one of which resulted in the deaths of several passengers. 

The National Transportation Safety Bureau (NTSB) released documents on Wednesday that conclude the driver of a New York City Metro-North train that crashed on December 1, 2013, suffered from undiagnosed sleep apnea and likely fell asleep at the controls before the accident. The train took a curve too fast and derailed, killing four and injuring dozens others.

A medical report on the engineer, William Rockefeller, released by the NTSB, indicates that he underwent a sleep evaluation after the accident because he could not remember details before the crash. They found that he suffered up to 64.7 sleep arousals per hour of sleep.

Do You Know about…

Spinal Cord Stimulator lawsuits

Spinal cord stimulator lawsuits are being investigated for individuals who suffered unnecessary shocks, burns or other problems, often resulting in the need for additional surgery to remove the SCS.

Learn More
SEE IF YOU QUALIFY FOR COMPENSATION
Spinal-Cord-Stimulation-Lawsuit
Spinal-Cord-Stimulation-Lawsuit

Do You Know About…

Spinal Cord Stimulator lawsuits

Spinal cord stimulator lawsuits are being investigated for individuals who suffered unnecessary shocks, burns or other problems, often resulting in the need for additional surgery to remove the SCS.

Learn More
SEE IF YOU QUALIFY FOR COMPENSATION

In addition to being diagnosed as having severe obstructive sleep apnea, the examining doctor noted that the driver had also been recently switched from the late night shift to the early morning shift. “Being a shift worker might have contributed to the accident,” the examining doctor noted.

A number of passengers and their families have filed wrongful death lawsuits and personal injury lawsuits against the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, claiming that the accident was the result of negligence.

The NTSB also released a preliminary report on a March 24 commuter train derailment in Chicago. The accident occurred at 2:49 a.m. near O’Hare Airport. While there were numerous injuries, there were no fatalities linked to that crash.

According to the NTSB report, the train operator admitted to falling asleep as her train entered the station. She missed the signal to stop the train and awoke too late. The train slammed into the station and drove partly up an escalator.

“The operator had worked nearly 60 hours over the previous 7 days; she was working her third consecutive night shift,” the report indicates.

Damages from that crash were estimated at $9.1 million.

Irvin Jackson
Written by: Irvin Jackson

Senior Legal Journalist & Contributing Editor

Irvin Jackson is a senior investigative reporter at AboutLawsuits.com with more than 30 years of experience covering mass tort litigation, environmental policy, and consumer safety. He previously served as Associate Editor at Inside the EPA and contributes original reporting on product liability lawsuits, regulatory failures, and nationwide litigation trends.

Tags: Sleep Driving, Train, Train Accident, Train Derailment
Image Credit: |

More Lawsuit Stories

0 Comments

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Share Your Comments

This field is hidden when viewing the form
I authorize the above comments be posted on this page
Post Comment
Weekly Digest Opt-In

Want your comments reviewed by a lawyer?

To have an attorney review your comments and contact you about a potential case, provide your contact information below. This will not be published.

NOTE: Providing information for review by an attorney does not form an attorney-client relationship.

MORE TOP STORIES

SmartPort Surgery Lawsuit Claims AngioDynamics Catheter Fractured Inside Woman's Body
A Missouri woman alleges her AngioDynamics SmartPort catheter fractured and left a broken piece near her heart, requiring surgical removal after it was found during a CT scan.
Enfamil NEC Lawsuit Cleared For MDL Trial in July 2026
A federal judge has selected an Enfamil lawsuit to serve as the first NEC infant formula bellwether trial, which is set to begin in July.
Abbott Eterna Lawsuit Alleges Spinal Cord Stimulator Malfunction Resulted in Worsening Pain
According to a lawsuit brought against the manufacturer and the FDA, an Abbott Eterna spinal cord stimulator has caused pain, shocks and complications instead of the relief promised.