WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Transportation Safety Board will hold a Board Meeting Tuesday, November 19, 2002 at 9:30 a.m., at its Board Room and Conference Center, 429 L’Enfant Plaza, S.W., Washington, D.C.
The Safety Board will look at the November 15, 2001 collision of two trains near Clarkston, Mich. Canadian National/Illinois Central Railway southbound train 533 was traveling at approximately 13 mph when it struck northbound train 243, which was traveling at about 25 mph. Both crewmembers of train 243 were fatally injured and two crewmembers aboard train 533 were seriously injured.
Killed in the wreck was BLE Member T.O. “Tom” Landris, a 27-year member of BLE Division 650 (Durand, Mich.). Also killed was UTU Member Gary Chase. Their train, #243, was traveling from Flat Rock, Mich., to Flint, Mich., when it collided head-on with train #533, in a siding near Springfield Township. A fiery blaze ensured, forcing the evacuation of 100 homes in the area.
Brother Landris was 49 years old at the time of his death.