Authorities charged a Bennett, Nebraska, teenager on Wednesday with causing a train derailment in April while filming a YouTube video.
BNSF Police investigators alleged in an affidavit that a 17-year-old male caused the accident, which involved two locomotives and five freight cars operated by BNSF Railway. Fox NebraskaThe derailment reportedly caused more than $150,000 in damages to Omaha Public Power Department (OPPD) property and approximately $200,000 in damages to BNSF property.
Investigators alleged in an affidavit that the train's conductor told him that a switch on the track owned by OPPD and used by BNSF was out of alignment, the news outlet reported. That caused the train to travel onto industrial tracks near a grain elevator, investigators said. The conductor told officials he performed an emergency stop but was unable to prevent the train from passing through the switch area and derailing, the news outlet reported.
Investigators noticed the padlock that normally accompanies the switch was missing, Fox Nebraska reported. The affidavit states the boy approached investigators and asked what had happened. When investigators said they didn't know what caused it, the suspect stated “apparently the switch was flipped the wrong way,” the warrant states. 1011News report. (Related: Report: Four dead, dozens injured in head-on train collision)
The suspect reportedly told investigators he was a train enthusiast and showed them video of the derailment.
According to Fox Nebraska, investigators said security camera footage they secured showed a beige vehicle near where the incident occurred. Investigators reportedly claimed the boy was then seen walking toward the switch. The affidavit states the boy was then seen walking back toward the car, according to the media outlet.
According to the media, investigators allege the suspect posted the video on YouTube.
Investigators reportedly obtained search warrants for the boy's cell phone and a 4K digital recorder on July 8.
A BSNF spokesperson confirmed to The Daily Caller that an arrest had been made but declined to comment further because the case is still under investigation.
