‘Railroad enthusiast’ accused of causing April train derailment in Bennet

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – A local railroad enthusiast is accused of causing a multi-car train derailment in Bennet earlier this year.

BNSF investigators said in a search warrant affidavit filed Wednesday that a 17-year-old boy in Bennet recorded the derailment on April 22.

Two locomotives and five rail cars derailed and hit an empty coal car, the affidavit says.  It caused an estimated $350,000 in damage.

During an investigation, BNSF Police learned that a switch had been “tampered with” and moved to the wrong position.

The switch is supposed to be secured with a padlock.  But the lock was missing, according to the affidavit.

An investigator at the scene spoke with the teen, who said he was a “railroad enthusiast” and takes videos of trains to post on social media.

The teen showed the investigator a video of the derailment, which was recorded on his cell phone, court documents say.  The video was later posted on YouTube by an account suspected to be associated with the teen.

While reviewing security video on April 24, investigators spotted a male walking along the tracks toward the switch, which was out of the camera’s view.  They later run back and drive off.

Another security video showed the same vehicle parked on the east side of Monroe Street.  The teen then got out and set up his recording equipment before the derailment, investigators said.

In the search warrant affidavit, investigators said they were seeking the teen’s recording equipment, including his cell phone.

BNSF Police think the devices “may contain evidence” linking the teen to the crime of felony criminal mischief, the affidavit says.