(The following story by T.J. Pignataro appeared on the Buffalo News website on July 9, 2010.)
BUFFALO, N.Y. — An Amtrak passenger train struck a pair of railroad ties deliberately placed on CSX railroad tracks on the Cattaraugus Reservation, State Police said today.
The incident occurred about 8:45 a.m. Monday, according to troopers, who said CSX Police and the FBI also are investigating.
The ties were placed across both CSX rails, about 200 yards east of the Cattaraugus Creek railroad bridge, police said. The passenger train struck the ties, splintering them and damaging the air lines to the train, police said. No passengers or crew members were injured.
The motive is unclear, authorities said. However, signs nearby to the scene state “No Mail — No Rail,” a reference to the federal government’s recent passage of the Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking Act, which bans native smoke shops from sending cigarettes by mail.