Nebraska
Nebraska teen accused of causing train derailment for ‘most insane’ YouTube video
The teen was charged with two felony counts after he was accused of causing a train derailment, filming it and posting it to YouTube. Prosecutors want to try him as an adult.
A 17-year-old Nebraska boy is facing felony charges after he was accused of derailing a train and posting the subsequent crash on YouTube.
The Bennet, Nebraska boy was charged in Lancaster County Juvenile Court last week, though prosecutors have filed to get the case moved over to adult court, according to documents obtained by multiple local outlets.
The teen is accused of tampering with the components of a railway on April 21, causing a BNSF Railway train loaded with coal to derail. Investigators said the resulting damage to two locomotives and five cars totaled around $350,000, according to KLKN-TV and WVIT-TV.
After the accident, the teen, who was described as a train enthusiast, reportedly notified authorities of the derailment. When they arrived and told the 17-year-old they did not yet know the cause of the crash, he replied: “Obviously a switch was flipped the wrong way,” according to local reports.
The train conductor later told investigators that the crash was caused by a misaligned switch, which was found to be missing a padlock that is usually attached to prevent unintended movement.
Police said in an affidavit that the teen was able to describe to them where the switch was and how it worked and that they discovered a camera tripod set up near the crash site just minutes before the accident, reported KOLN-TV.
The teen also reportedly showed police a video he took on his phone, according to KLKN-TV. Two days later, a video investigators believe to be linked to the teen was uploaded to YouTube titled: “Loaded BNSF Arbor COLLIDES and DERAILS in Bennet, NE! MOST INSANE VIDEO I’VE EVER TAKEN!”
The teen has been charged with two felony counts of criminal mischief for intentionally damaging or tampering with property. USA TODAY has reached out to Lancaster County Attorney Patrick F. Condon and BNSF Railway for comment.
Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen said Thursday that he has asked President Donald Trump to issue a major disaster declaration for damage caused by storms that hit the state May 15-18.
The storms spawned tornadoes and flash flooding across Buffalo, Fillmore, Gage, Howard, Jefferson, Nemaha, Thayer and Thurston counties. There were numerous downed power poles and lines as well as extensive damage to schools, building and roadways. Damage just to public infrastructure is estimated at nearly $5 million.
In addition to the disaster declaration request, Pillen said he also has requested access to the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, which provides funding to governments to allow them to rebuild in ways that will reduce or mitigate future disaster losses. Approval would allow the state to apply for such grants.
Thursday’s disaster declaration request is the second in two months. Back in May, Pillen requested one for historic wildfires in March that impacted Arthur, Garden, Grant, Lincoln and Morill counties. At the time of the request, it was estimated there was at least $9.7 million in damage from the fires, which were the worst in Nebraska’s history.
Nebraska
Bandits back in the win column with tournament-opening victory in Nebraska – East Idaho News
OMAHA, Neb. – The Bandits opened the Omaha, Nebraska tournament with a 7-4 win over Fremont.
The Bandits, coming off two losses to Billings at last week’s Bandits Invitational, trailed 4-3 in the fifth, but tied it up on a sac fly by Cole Croft.
They scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth for the win.
Carter Bowen finished 3 for 3 with an RBI and two runs scored. Conner Cannon and Taye Lords each knocked in two runs for Idaho Falls (10-2).
Tyson Christenson picked up the win with four innings of relief.
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LOWELL, Neb. (WOWT) – On this day in 1872, the boomtown of Lowell, Nebraska was named the seat of Kearney County.
The Nebraska State Historical Society says the Burlington and Missouri River Railroads chose it as a town site the year before.
For a short time, it became a major shipping point for central Nebraska.
Its status would be short-lived.
Later that year, the railroad expanded to Kearney, which became the center for regional trading.
Lowell’s land office was removed in 1874.
Four years later, the boom town was nothing more than a village.
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