JOAN LOWY, Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal investigators are meeting to consider the cause of an accident last year in which a freight train rammed a parade float at a rail crossing in Midland, Texas. Four veterans were killed and 16 people were injured.
The National Transportation Safety Board is also expected to make safety recommendations based on the collision at its meeting Tuesday.
The Union Pacific train struck the float, part of a parade to honor wounded veterans, as it was crossing the tracks. Several veterans and their wives managed to jump to safety before the collision.
Investigators said the railroad crossing warning system was activated 20 seconds before the accident, and the guardrail began to come down seven seconds after that. The train was traveling at 62 mph in a 70 mph zone.