214 Railroad Crashes and Incidents

Question 1

The primary responsibility of JSO personnel at a Class “A” accident is to care for _______________ until medical assistance arrives, secure the scene, and provide assistance to the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department (JFRD) and the investigating agencies.

Answer 1

injured persons

Question 2

Major railroad crashes and derailments which involve fire, the release of hazardous materials, a serious injury or death, significant property damage, credible evidence of malfunction or failure of an active warning device, evacuations, or receives media attention (Class “A” accidents) will be investigated by ____________________

Answer 2

the FDOT, the FRA, and/or the NTSB.

Question 3

An investigator(s) from the FDOT, FRA, and/or NTSB will determine the cause of the crash, and if criminal interference or negligence is a factor, the JSO will conduct a _______________. CSX Transportation, Norfolk Southern Railway, and the Florida East Coast Railway have their own police agents who may also conduct criminal investigations of such incidents. [

Answer 3

criminal investigation

Question 4

Who will respond and investigate the following types of incidents:

Any incident involving the death of any railroad employee;

All train v. train collisions;

All derailments resulting in any death or in serious injury to any railroad passenger or several persons in railroad crossing collisions;

Any railroad hazardous materials incident, which imperils a community due to fire, explosion, release of noxious fumes, and incidents involving an evacuation, especially if it poses an imminent safety hazard to persons in the surrounding locale;

Train accidents resulting in damages to track or equipment exceeding $1 million;

Accidents that arouse public interest; and

Collisions or derailments involving credible evidence of a malfunction or failure of an active warning device which is alleged to have contributed to or caused the accident.

Answer 4

The FRA and NTSB

Question 5

________________ will respond to any derailment involving 10 or more cars, any crash at a crossing involving three or more fatalities, or any incident which appears to be part of a pattern or trend.

Answer 5

the FDOT investigator

Question 6

The first officer on the scene of a major railroad crash or derailment shall:

Answer 6

Care for any injured persons

Secure the scene

Question 7

The wreckage, contents, and strewn items from the train must not be moved or disturbed except to:

Answer 7

Remove injured or trapped persons;

Protect the wreckage from further damage;

Protect the public from injury.

Question 8

If any item is moved or disturbed, sketches, notes, and/or photographs must be made showing the original position:

Answer 8

If possible, bodies should not be moved until FDOT, FRA, or NTSB officials are on the scene;

If a Crime Scene Unit (CSU) detective is present during extractions/rescue efforts, photographs or videotape should be made while those efforts are being conducted so that investigators will be able to reconstruct the scene as it existed prior to contamination; and

Remember that the crash may be the result of some criminal act and should be treated as any other crime scene until such determination can be made.

Question 9

Ensure ______________ are asked to remain at the scene to be interviewed by the detectives and the FDOT, FRA, and/or NTSB investigators

Answer 9

all witnesses

Question 10

Officer should maintain site security and coordinate with the investigators at the scene unless relieved by
_____________________________

Answer 10

higher authority or advised that it is no longer necessary

Question 11

Who is responsible for removal of the wreckage once the investigation is complete.

Answer 11

The railroads

Question 12

Assess the situation to determine what additional resources are required, and request the following

Answer 12

Additional police units

The Aviation Unit, to determine the extent of the affected area and/or to search for ejected persons

The Marine Unit, if a train has derailed over a waterway

JFRD units

The JFRD Hazardous Materials Team

Question 13

The responding supervisor shall

Answer 13

For any crash involving serious injury, death, or release of hazardous materials, notify the watch commander

Summon other resources as needed for site security, crowd control, and traffic control

Coordinate with JFRD and FDOT personnel in the establishment of a command post and an inner and outer perimeter, ensuring that endangered or non-essential persons are evacuated from within

Ensure that the railroad has been notified by a member of the train crew or, if they are unable, advise the Investigative PECO

Ensure that the FDOT Rail Operations Administrator and the FRA have been notified by the PECO as soon as possible so they may respond to the scene. Either they or the railroad will contact the NTSB, as indicated

Question 14

Coordinate with JFRD and FDOT personnel in the establishment of a command post and an inner and outer perimeter, ensuring that endangered or non-essential persons are evacuated from within. After command post has been estblished

Answer 14

The supervisor will notify the PECO of the location of the command post

Responding units will be instructed to report to the command post for assignments and briefing, unless directed to do otherwise

Question 15

Railroad crashes other than those outlined above, such as those involving motor vehicles, pedestrians, and other conveyances, will normally be investigated solely by the ______________

Answer 15

JSO

Question 16

Railroad crashes will be reported as follows:

Answer 16

If a train collides with a motor vehicle and the motor vehicle is being operated on a roadway at the time of the collision, a Long Form Crash Report will be completed in SmartCop;

If a train collides with a motor vehicle on private property not open to the public (i.e., Blount Island, Talleyrand Ave. terminal area, or on a private rail spur inside a fenced warehouse compound), an Incident Report will be completed entitled “Accidental Death”, “Accidental Injury”, or “Damage to Property”, as appropriate

If a train collides with an all-terrain vehicle, a Long Form Crash Report will be completed in SmartCop regardless of the location if a fatality or an injury requiring medical treatment is involved

If a train collides with another train and there are no injuries, fatalities, or damage to property other than that owned or operated by the railroad, the NTSB, FRA, and FDOT will be called by the railroad. A JSO investigation is not required unless the engineer is impaired, in which case the FDOT Rail Operations Administrator will notify JSO to respond.

Question 17

In the case of fatalities or life-threatening injuries, the following investigative units will be notified:

Answer 17

In cases involving motor vehicles, pedestrians, and other conveyances that require the completion of a Long Form Crash Report in SmartCop, Traffic Homicide will respond; and

In all other cases, Homicide will respond

Question 18

Where appropriate, the engineer’s certificate number shall be listed on all reports in the space for driver’s license. Engineers are not required to carry a driver’s license, but are required to be certified and carry their certificate at __________ when operating a train. If an engineer refuses or fails to produce this certificate upon demand, the ___________________________shall be called to the scene

Answer 18

all times

FDOT Rail Operations Administrator

Question 19

What four railroads operate in Duval County

Answer 19

CSX Transportation, Inc.,
Norfolk Southern Railway,
Florida East Coast Railway,
Talleyrand Terminal Railroad Co.

Question 20

Amtrak trains operate exclusively on ______ lines.

Answer 20

CSX

Question 21

Some trains in Duval County may be travelling as fast as 80 miles per hour and braking distances for trains are much greater than those for automobiles For example, a freight train with 150 cars going 60 miles per hour will continue to travel for __________ after brakes are applied.

Answer 21

1 1/2 miles

Question 22

Incidents that require a train to stop should be relayed to the ____________________as soon as possible to avoid complications

Answer 22

railroad dispatcher

Question 23

A flare placed between the rails is a signal for a train to reduce to a ____________, day or night.

Answer 23

cautionary speed

Question 24

Intoxicated Servant of a Common Carrier makes it unlawful and a ________________ misdemeanor for any person to operate a train, railroad switch, or signal while intoxicated.

Answer 24

second-degree

Question 25

If officers encounter an engineer operating a train while intoxicated or using drugs, in addition to making an arrest, they should notify

Answer 25

the FDOT Rail Operations Administrator

Question 26

A supervisor shall be notified any time an arrest of a train engineer or crewmember is indicated. The supervisor will decide whether a Notice to Appear Citation (NTA) shall be issued or if the subject is to be physically arrested.

Answer 26

A supervisor

Question 27

If the subject is to be physically arrested, _________________ will have the subject and train accompanied to a depot or station, or will contact the rail line operator via the Investigative PECO to arrange the release of the train to railroad authorities at the scene.

Answer 27

the supervisor

Question 28

Train engineers and crew members who commit minor violations of the law will not be taken into custody, but will be issued an NTA. A physical arrest is only indicated for ________________________________

Answer 28

“serious” misdemeanors or felonies.

Question 29

Except at official crossings, railroad tracks are private property and, where properly posted, persons fishing from trestles, walking along railroad tracks, etc., are guilty of a first degree misdemeanor for __________________

Answer 29

Trespass on Property other than Structure of Conveyance

Question 30

Any unauthorized person who intentionally interferes with any railroad train, track, switch, or signal is guilty of a ___________________

Answer 30

third degree felony

Question 31

Any person who rides or attempts to ride on a train without permission is guilty of a ______________________ for Riding or Attempting to Ride on a Railroad Train with the Intent to Ride for Free, or Trespass in Conveyance

Answer 31

second-degree misdemeanor

Question 32

If officers make an arrest of an on-duty railroad employee or of any person for an offense against a railroad, train, or rail cargo, __________________for the rail line should be notified

Answer 32

the railroad police agency

Question 33

“No railroad locomotive, car, train, or other vehicle shall be operated so as to close or obstruct a street or crossing in the City for a longer time than five minutes in a period of fifteen minutes, except in cases of emergency. This provision shall not apply to trains in continuous motion but shall apply to trains or cars engaged in switching. Violation of this section by the owner or person in charge of a railroad train or car shall constitute a Class ‘C’ offense.”

Answer 33

Obstructing crossings – Five minutes duration

Question 34

Officers encountering trains under these circumstances may issue an NTA Citation for “Obstructing Crossings – Five Minutes Duration.”

Answer 34

citations are issued to the railroad company instead of the individual operating the train,

Use of the lead locomotive number is preferred for the citation, but if it cannot be determined, the AAR number, any train car number, and the direction of travel of the train (if known) at a specific time will assist in determining responsibility for the violation

all copies of the citation (except the pink copy, which is retained in the officer’s citation book) will be turned over to a supervisor for approval and forwarded to the review desk

Once reviewed, the citations are forwarded to County Court for further processing

Question 35

A train may have an undesired application of brakes if an air-line breaks. If so, it will be _______________the train until it is repaired

Answer 35

impossible to move