July 31, 2015
Picente On Train Wreck: “Someone is responsible and it isn’t the taxpayers of Oneida County”
Oneida County Executive Releases Video Footage Of Train Crash at Union Station
Oneida County Executive Anthony J. Picente Jr, has released a statement in regards to the July 21st Rail Car incident that culminated with a wreck at Union Station in Utica as well as video footage captured, at Union Station, of the Crash.
Over the last ten days the County Executive’s Administration, including Emergency Services, Department of Public Works, County Attorney’s office and others dealt with the immediate aftermath of the crash, and continues to do so. They have worked with engineers, contractors, insurance adjusters and lawyers to secure the crash site and prepare two train cars to be removed from the building. They have worked with the Board of Legislators to complete this work expediently and, on Monday, when the train cars are removed they will begin the long arduous process of repairing the building.
Since July 21st, local law enforcement has pieced together the series of events that led to the crash. They have ascertained that a 13 year old set the car in motion. Utica Police Department Investigators have concluded that the child had no criminal intent. The County accepts that and the County Executive conveyed a sense of relief that no one set out with a sinister objective to create havoc or cause bodily harm.
With the completion of these investigations The County has made available for the first time today a video captured at the scene of the crash at Union Station depicting the final moments of the crash. The video is available at the following link: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/6plqgo0t65c1fr1/AADpd2QAlaeCt3fKqQ5dGecSa?dl=0
The County Executive said “Of continued concern is how it was possible for a 13 year old child to set this train car in motion through the City of Utica. I understand that the Federal Railroad Administration has concluded that proper procedure was followed. That is astounding. There was significant danger to our citizens and there is significant damage to our train station and someone is responsible and it isn’t the taxpayers of Oneida County. Oneida County Government has done nothing wrong. Oneida County taxpayers have done nothing wrong. And we are owed a better explanation than ‘proper procedure’ was followed. I call on the FRA and the National Traffic Safety Board to give this government and the people of this county a real explanation. If ‘proper procedure’ can result in an accident caused by a 13 year old playing on a rail car that has sat unattended for 14 days someone should change the procedure - immediately”
