A Nebraska teenager has been charged with causing a train derailment to capture the event on camera and upload it on YouTube. BNSF Railway conducted an investigation and found that on April 21, the youngster tampered with a railroad switch, causing two trains and five loaded BNSF cars to deviate off the rails close to Bennet. Following the months-long inquiry, the teenager, whose name hasn’t been made public since he is a minor, was hit with charges on Wednesday.
Prosecutors have already filed a move to have the case moved to adult court, according to NBC News. The 17-year-old was charged with two felonies of criminal mischief in Lancaster County Juvenile Court.
The trains did not topple over, but one of them struck an empty coal car, causing damage worth over $350,000, according to court records.
A BNSF Railway investigator was informed by the train’s conductor that a misplaced switch caused the train to deviate onto an industrial track instead of the intended path. The reports stated the incident occurred because he tried to trigger an emergency stop but couldn’t manage to do it before the switch’s placement.
Based on the fact that a switch was misaligned and its lock was missing when investigators arrived to examine the track, NTV News and KLKN-TV reported that they were inclined to conclude that the track had been “tampered with.”
The teenager reported the event to the police. He identified himself as a “railway enthusiast” who took videos of trains to share on social media. When investigators arrived on the site, he questioned them about the derailment. According to the reports, he also stated that he had videotaped the entire event.
KOLN-TV reported that an investigator observed that although the youngster denied trespassing, he was aware of the switch’s placement and use.
After obtaining surveillance footage three days later, authorities discovered that the teen was driving a beige 1996 Buick Park Avenue when it pulled up next to the switch. After that, he reappeared on camera, got back in his car, and drove off, according to NTV News.
NTV News and KLKN-TV reported that just prior to the train crash, footage showed him parking his car and putting up his video recording apparatus close to the crossing.
KLKN-TV reported that investigators mentioned in the affidavit that they intended to check the 17-year-old’s mobile phone and recording device for any evidence that would connect him to the crime.
A BNSF representative told PEOPLE that an arrest had been made, but they could not speak further at this time since the investigation was still underway.
Pat Condon, the county attorney for Lancaster, informed KOLN-TV that the teenager had not been arrested at the moment. According to the publication, his next court hearing is still pending.
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