Witness comes forward in Amtrak wreck

Initial tests show that the crossing lights and barrier gates were working properly at the time of the accident
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In this story: A zig-zag test Investigative report may take a year First lawsuit filed RELATED STORIES, SITES

BOURBONNAIS, Illinois (CNN) -- Federal investigators conducted another reenactment-style test Thursday at an Illinois railroad crossing and said they will re-interview a "credible witness" who may have information about an Amtrak train crash that killed 11 people.

John Goglia, a member of the National Transportation Safety Board, said the unidentified witness was "in a motor vehicle directly behind" a flatbed tractor-trailer rig loaded with steel bars that was hit by a train Monday night in Bourbonnais, about 50 miles south of Chicago.

More than 100 people were injured.

Goglia did not identify the witness at a midday briefing but said the person was "somebody not from this immediate area" who had contacted Amtrak.

He said that during an initial interview with investigators the witness said there were other vehicles nearby. Anyone else who might have information was asked to call the NTSB collect at 202-314-6298.

Goglia said the witness would be re-questioned later Thursday in what he called a "formal" interview.

A zig-zag test

In tests conducted Wednesday night and Thursday morning, a truck similar to the one involved in the accident was driven in a zig-zag pattern at the railroad crossing where the accident occurred to determine if it could have gone around barrier gates.

Driving in a zig-zag pattern, a truck similar to the one involved in the accident retraces one possible route to see if it could have gone around the railroad barrier gates

Investigators want to determine if such a scenario could have occurred in the seconds before the fiery collision that derailed all but three of the southbound train's 14 cars.

"We were able to negotiate the gates, without striking them," said J.S. Dunn, the lead investigator for the NTSB.

The nighttime re-enactment, called a "sight-distance" test, was conducted about 9:45 p.m. CST -- at almost the same time the "City of New Orleans," as the train is called, approached the crossing.

Investigators used a single locomotive and a tractor-trailer to restage the sequence of events surrounding the accident.

They said the new test on Thursday morning, which involved only a truck, was necessary because they needed additional information.

Investigative report may take a year

In his news briefing, Goglia also said:

• Tests show the crossing lights and barrier gates were working properly when the accident occurred. That means the red signal light flashes for five seconds before the gates descend, giving drivers already in the crossing 26 seconds to clear it.

  There was "no indication of signal malfunction," Goglia said. That conflicts with an account reportedly given by the driver, John Stokes. Investigators have quoted him as saying he had already driven into the crossing when the gates came down.

• The train's engineer, who remains hospitalized, will not be re-interviewed until after he recovers. "We can let him take some time to heal before we talk to him," Goglia said, indicating that any information the engineer had was not immediately crucial to the investigation.

• Most of the "on-scene" investigation probably will be finished by Friday, but it could take up to a year to issue a report on the "probable cause" of the accident.

First lawsuit

The first lawsuit resulting from the accident was filed Wednesday, seeking $300,000 in damages for David and Laura Roe of New Orleans, passengers who survived the crash.

Defendants include Amtrak, Illinois Central Railroad, Stokes and his employer, Melco Transfer Company. The Roe's suit claims they suffered "serious and permanent injuries" as a result of the accident.

Correspondent Charles Zewe contributed to this report.

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