Nebraska Jury Awards $900K to Former Train Conductor

A jury has awarded $900,000 to an ex-Union Pacific train conductor who sued the railroad after suffering injuries in a 2010 derailment in Columbus, Neb.

The Omaha World-Herald reports a Douglas County District Court jury deliberated for more than four hours on Oct. 30 before awarding the money to 68-year-old Loren Sweley of North Platte.

Sweley’s lawsuit says the train was traveling around 50 miles per hour on a foggy night in January 2010 when it hit a bulldozer performing work on the unlighted track. His attorney says severe spinal injuries left him unable to work. About 22 cars were derailed in the accident.

Omaha-based Union Pacific declined to comment on the jury’s ruling.