15 July 2009
Cleanup Work, Investigation Continues at Site of Fatal IC&E Train Crash
Bettendorf Iowa USA - Heavy equipment picked up
pieces of twisted rail car wreckage Wednesday as recovery workers and officials from Canadian Pacific Railway Police and Dakota,
Minnesota & Eastern Railroad milled about the site of Tuesday's crash site in Bettendorf.
"We're still focusing on friends and family (of the deceased)," DM&E spokesman Jeff Johnson said. "Our hearts and
prayers are with the families."
The engineer who died was identified as 27-year-old Joshua M. Osborn of Savanna, Ill., Bettendorf police said Wednesday.
Also killed in the crash was the train's conductor, Andrew Reed, 27, also of Savanna. The conductor and the engineer were the only
crew on board when the train crashed into stationary rail cars on a side rail and derailed at 29th and State streets, behind Hampton
Cranes.
The National Transportation Safety Board is heading up the investigation, but board spokesman Peter Knudson had few new details
Wednesday regarding the investigation. He said an investigator from the board is on the scene documenting details, talking to
witnesses, taking pictures, and talking to others who may have been involved, such as police dispatchers.
On Wednesday, yellow police tape cordoned off the area where the train left the tracks. "Safety is our top priority,"
Johnson said. Security forces will be stationed at the area around-the-clock for the next several days while workers
salvage evidence, he said.
Johnson said crash debris retrieved from the tracks would be held at an undisclosed location until the National Transportation Safety
Board determines the items no longer are needed. At that time, the items will be scrapped or repaired, Johnson said.
Johnson declined to name the owners of the damaged railroad cars, citing the ongoing investigation. He said the Dakota, Minnesota &
Eastern Railroad owned the tracks where the derailment took place.
The accident occurred when the train crossed through a switch that was not lined up for the main line, but instead was switched to a
holding area for rail cars. Knudson said he did not have any information as to how to those switches are operated.
Osborn, a Marine sergeant who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, was a 1999 graduate of Savanna High School and attended Highland
Community College, Freeport, Ill.
He was engaged to marry Jennifer Schreiner, of Savanna, and had a daughter, Kaliann Schreiner, as well as Jennifer Schreiner's
daughter, Bailey Baker. He was the son of Jill Foster of Corning, Ark., and Steve Osborn of Sterling, Ill. He enjoyed riding his
motorcycle and was a fan of Chicago sports teams.
A memorial visitation for Osborn will be held from 2-7 p.m. Saturday at Law-Jones Funeral Home,
Savanna.
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