Philadelphia Mayor: Engineer In Amtrak Crash ‘Reckless,’ But Brandon Bostian Forgets The Derailment?

According to the Philadelphia mayor, engineer Brandon Bostian was “reckless” during the Amtrak crash. Michael Nutter says Bostian should never have been going so fast around the curve, but the Amtrak engineer claims he cannot recall any of the details that led up to the Amtrak derailment.

In a related report by the Inquisitr, reports claim the Amtrak train derailed due to speed, and it is said the Amtrak engineer drove the train at 107 miles per hour when the speed limit was only 50 MPH.

The Amtrak train crash resulted in 140 injuries and seven deaths. According to the Philadelphia mayor, engineer Brandon Bostian might need to shoulder some of the blame for the Amtrak derailment.

“Clearly it was reckless in terms of the driving by the engineer,” Nutter told CNN. “I don’t know what was going on with him. I don’t know what was going on in the cab, but there’s really no excuse that can be offered, literally, unless he had a heart attack. There’s no way in the world he should have been going that fast into the curve.”

The National Safety Transportation Board (NTSB) is in charge of the ongoing Amtrak crash investigation, and they are urging caution in regards to make judgments over Bostian’s alleged actions. In response to what Nutter said, the NTSB stated, “You’re not going to hear the NTSB making comments like that.”

For instance, faulty brakes could have prevented Bostian from slowing down the train in time for the curve. Investigators have not yet determined whether or not the Amtrak train crash was due to human or mechanical error.

Unfortunately, Brandon Bostian’s lawyer, Robert Goggin, says the Amtrak engineer may not be able to help fill in the blanks.

“He remembers coming into the curve (and) attempting to reduce speed,” the attorney said. “The last thing he recalls is coming to, looking for his bag, getting his cell phone, turning it on and calling 911…. I can tell you that he was distraught when he learned of the devastation. He was distraught.”

Bostian was injured in the Amtrak crash himself, and he currently has 15 staples in his head in addition to having one leg immobilized while the other required more stitches. NTSB member Robert Sumwalt says Bostian did engage the emergency brakes “just moments” before the Amtrak derailment, but the engineer can’t even remember taking those actions.

The lawyer said his client voluntarily took a blood test, and there was “no drinking, no drugs, no medical conditions. Nothing.”

What do you think about the Philadelphia mayor’s comments about the engineer?

[Image via The Gateway Pundit]