South Carolina Men Indicted for Train Wreck Insurance Scheme

Two men face seven federal charges after authorities say they parked a car on train tracks in Allendale County, S.C., causing an Amtrak train to derail, then came back and claimed they were injured in the crash.

Prosecutors said 33-year-old James Love and 34-year-old Deon Roberts were indicted last week on charges of fraud and causing a train wreck. The indictment was unsealed Wednesday after they were arrested.

The indictment says the men parked a stolen 2013 Kia on the tracks on Sept. 16, 2013, then left until an Amtrak train crashed into it. Authorities say Love got back into the damaged car and Roberts laid down near it, both claiming to be severely injured.

None of the 128 passengers on the Amtrak train were hurt.

Court records didn’t list a lawyer for either man.