>>1269766The National Transportation Safety Board determined that the probable cause of this accident was the disengagement of a worn air hose coupling when the train passed over a low track joint which initiated an emergency application of the train brakes, an excessive buff force within the train resulting from the failure of the person at the locomotive controls to respond properly to the brake application, and the placement of empty cars near the head of the train between heavily loaded cars. Contributing to the cause of the accident were the impairment of the engineer's faculties by alcohol and his abandonment of the locomotive controls to an unauthorized and unqualified clerk that was deadheading.
The engineer, brakeman, and clerk were all arrested and charged with reckless handling of hazardous materials.
https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/RAR8305.pdfhttps://www.nytimes.com/1982/10/15/us/3-arrests-made-in-train-accident.htmlhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XiOFPXvVpwY 