Engineer of oil tanker train sues BNSF for Casselton crash
The engineer of an oil tanker train involved in a fiery derailment near Casselton in 2013 is suing BNSF Railway.
The complaint filed Tuesday by Bryan Thompson, of Fargo, accuses the railroad of negligence. He says BNSF failed to properly inspect and maintain its equipment and failed to warn him of the dangers of hauling explosive oil tank railcars.
The suit in state court says Thompson suffered "severe and permanent injuries." He's seeking unspecified damages.
Thompson's lawyer, Thomas Flaskamp, and BNSF officials did not immediately return phone messages seeking comment.
The accident happened when a train carrying soybeans derailed in front of a BNSF oil train, causing that train to also derail and set off a fire. Authorities reported no injuries.
The crash spilled about 400,000 gallons of crude oil.
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