Drug Trace Found In 2 Conrail Workers After Fatal Crash
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The two men operating three Conrail locomotives that moved past a closed switch and were struck by a speeding Amtrak train used marijuana before the fatal accident, Federal railroad officials said today. The two men operating three Conrail locomotives that moved past a closed switch and were struck by a speeding Amtrak train used marijuana before the fatal accident, Federal railroad officials said today. John H. Riley, Administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration, said toxicological tests showed traces of cannabinol, a key ingredient of the marijuana plant, in the blood and urine samples taken from the engineer and brakeman operating the Conrail engines. He said the tests did not indicate whether the two men used the drug just before the accident or were longtime users. Mr. Riley and others questioned about the drug and alcohol test results also declined to say whether the presence of drugs affected the performance of the Conrail train crew on the day of the accident. #16 Killed in Jan. 4 Crash The accident, which killed 16 people and injured more than 170, occurred when the high-speed Amtrak passenger train collided with three Conrail locomotives at a junction near Baltimore on Jan. 4. It was the worst accident in Amtrak’s 15-year history. More : query.nytimes.com |