Amtrak engineer was not using cell phone before fatal train crash, investigators say

Officials continue to investigate the cause of the crash

The Amtrak engineer who was piloting the train that derailed last month in Philadelphia was not using his cell phone at the time of the derailment. The crash killed eight and injured more than 200.

The possibility that the engineer, Brandon Bostian, was using his phone in the time leading up to the derailment has been at the centre of the National Transportation Safety Board investigation, but Mr Bostian’s phone showed no evidence it was used at that time, the New York Times reported.

Investigators were focused on the cell phone to see if Mr Bostian may have been distracted by a call or text. The train was traveling at 106 mph into a curve that has a speed limit of 50 mph and it jumped the tracks.

The engineer’s lawyer has said his client suffered a concussion and has no recollection of what happened immediately leading up to the crash.

Mr Bostian claims his cell phone was powered off and stowed in a bag at the time of the crash. He says his first memory after the accident was getting his phone and calling 911.

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