Truck Driver Who Crashed into Amtrak Train Had Previous Violations

Nearly a week ago, a Nevada truck driver crashed into an Amtrak train in the Nevada desert. While the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is still investigating the crash, we now know more about the truck driver, Lawrence Valli.

Despite receiving previous violations for speeding and for hitting a car stopped on the side of a Nevada highway, Valli's commercial license had not been taken away from him. He had even been sued by the passengers in the car that he hit. They sustained serious injuries and damages in excess of $100,000. Their claims were settled out of court in a confidential settlement agreement. At the time of that accident, Valli was with another trucking company.

John Davis Trucking, Valli's employer, has also had previous violations filed against it.

Amtrak filed suit against John Davis Trucking in U.S. District Court in Nevada. Amtrak claims that John Davis Trucking negligently hired Valli and failed to properly train him on how to drive its trucks.

This is not the only lawsuit that has been filed against the trucking company for the crash that happened last Friday. An Amtrak employee who was seriously injured in the crash was the first to file suit against both John Davis Trucking and Valli. The plaintiff in that lawsuit is also alleging that John Davis Trucking was negligent in allowing Valli to drive its trucks.

Initial reports from eyewitnesses note that the crossing signals were working at the time of the accident. Skid marks from Valli's truck could be seen on the road after the accident, and investigators estimate that he hit the brakes of his semi truck only 320 feet before where the crossing signals were.

Many are now wondering why Valli wasn't taken off the road if he had so many speeding and other traffic violations. Under Nevada Law, a driver can lose his commercial license if he commits two serious violations within a three year period. Although Valli had committed more than two violations, they were either spread out enough to allow him to keep his commercial license, or the violations did not amount to serious violations, which Nevada defines as driving at least 15 mph in excess of the posted speed limit.

NHTSA investigators are looking into Valli's cell phone records to determine whether he was on his cell phone at the time of the crash. But many still wonder how he could have missed seeing a train in the middle of the desert.