HUNTINGTON – A woman is suing the Collis P. Huntington Railroad Historical Society after she claims it negligently connected an engine to a passenger car.
National Railroad Passenger Corporation, which is doing business as Amtrak; CSX Corporation; CSX Transportation Inc.; and John Doe Entity or Entities were also named as defendants in the suit.
On Oct. 20, 2013, Caitlin G. Sloan was traveling by train from Huntington to Hinton and back to Huntington when she was injured while traveling on the train, according to a complaint filed in Cabell Circuit Court.
Sloan claims while stopped in Hinton, the engine was separated from the passenger cars and traveled to the opposite end of the passenger cars in order for it to be coupled up for the return trip.
As the engine was coupling up with the passenger cars, the engine and the passenger car collided in such a manner as to cause Sloan to be thrown about the train, causing her to hit her head, which resulted in serious injury.
Sloan claims she was conducting herself in a lawful and non-negligent manner at the time of the collision.
CPH failed to select and retain a train operator to operated in a reasonably safe manner and its negligent failure to exercise reasonable care for Sloan's safety caused her injuries, according to the suit.
Sloan claims Amtrak also owed her the highest duty of care to operate the train in a safe and responsible manner and to exercise reasonable care for her safety, which it failed to do.
CSX had a legal duty to assist in the operation of the train in a safe and responsible manner and exercise reasonable care, which it failed to do, according to the suit.
Sloan is seeking compensatory damages. She is being represented by Chad Hatcher of Hatcher Law Office.
The case is assigned to Circuit Judge F. Jane Hustead.
Cabell Circuit Court case number: 15-C-722