Lawsuit filed over 2016 train crossing accident in Seneca

An accident involving a train and a tractor-trailer truck at a Seneca crossing three years ago is the subject for a lawsuit last week in the Oconee Common Pleas Court. The railroad, Norfolk Southern, seeks actual and consequential damages to cover damage to its locomotive, track, crossing, and warning devices at the East Main Street crossing. Named defendants were Branch Logistics of Saluda, North Carolina, Branch Logistics owner Tammy Branch, and Andrew Martin Torres, who the lawsuit identifies as the driver of a tractor-trailer leased by Branch Logistics. The lawsuit alleges Norfolk Southern incurred significant delays and the loss of the use of a locomotive. It alleges that on June 29, 2016 Torres illegally stopped or parked the tractor-trailer on the crossing tracks in violation of South Carolina law. It then goes on to state: “The train crew properly sounded the horn in compliance with all federal regulations as the train approached the crossing.” And it said, “The gates and signals at the crossing properly activated to give warning of the oncoming train.” It further alleges: “Defendant Torres ignored these warnings and/or otherwise failed to move the tractor-trailer at the crossing and yield right of way to Norfolk Southern’s train, causing an accident at the crossing….”