(The following story by Stan Finger appeared on The Wichita Eagle website on December 20.)
WICHITA, Kan. — The conductor of a Burlington Northern Santa Fe train injured Monday when it slammed into the railcars linked to a second train has been downgraded to serious condition at Wesley Medical Center.
S.J. Bobbitt Sr. was one of two people injured in the collision just before 10 a.m. near Mulvane. The engineer, Lisa Brown, remains in serious condition at Via Christi Regional Medical Center-St. Francis Campus.
Authorities have reported the northbound BNSF train that Brown and Bobbitt were in struck a southbound BNSF train that was diverting off the main line so the first train could continue its trip. But BNSF officials said they had heard a number of explanations for the collision and have launched an investigation.