Amtrak, BNSF Railway seek to move civil lawsuits in fatal train crash to Sullivan County | News from Mid-Missouri | So Good News

KEYTESVILLE – Attorneys for the defendants in several trials related to a fatal train derailment in June in Chariton County have filed a motion to change venue.

According to the Chariton County Circuit Clerk, the request asks a judge to move the case to Sullivan County. Amtrak and BNSF claim that not enough people live in the county. The defendants also argue that the jury, which will include Chariton County residents, could be biased.

A Missouri Supreme Court ruling says a change of venue can be requested in counties with a population of 75,000 or less.

Four people were killed when an Amtrak train hit a dump truck at a railroad crossing near Mendon in late June.

In the days that followed, many parties—including family members of those killed or injured—filed lawsuits in circuit and federal court against Amtrak and the BNSF Railway Company, which operates the track where the accident occurred.

In September, BNSF sued in federal court, seeking to force passengers from the train seeking damages to have their cases heard in arbitration, rather than in court. That case is still pending.