Missouri Jury Awards $4M to Family of Train Victim

A jury in northwest Missouri has awarded $4 million in damages in a civil case involving a 2008 train accident that killed a 10-year-old girl.

The Andrew County jury has ruled in favor of Shelly Gatewood, whose daughter, Shelby Wilson, was killed when a BNSF train struck the vehicle she was in at a rail crossing.

The St. Joseph News-Press reported that the jury also was also scheduled to meet Tuesday to deliberate possible punitive damages.

The lawsuit claimed that BNSF was at fault in part because the right-of-way was obscured by vegetation and the locomotive’s horn didn’t comply with requirements.

BNSF has denied the allegations. It said in a statement it disagrees with the ruling and plans to pursue “post-trial relief.”

Information from: St. Joseph News-Press