Woman Wins $20 Million in Wrongful Death Lawsuit
A widow was awarded $20 million in court for her husband, who died in a train collision in 2012 in Steele, Missouri.
The lawsuit, filed by Sherry Spence on behalf of her late husband Scott Spence, a businessman, named Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway as the defendant.
Scott was hit by a BNSF train while driving his car across the tracks and was thrown from his vehicle upon collision. A railroad crossing sign without lights or gates was the only signal present at the intersection.
“BNSF respects the jury's time and effort it devoted to this case, and we will evaluate how to best address the multiple irregularities in the trial,” said BNSF spokesman Mike Trevino. “While everyone recognizes the emotional and sympathetic nature of this grade-crossing accident, there was no evidence presented of negligence by the railroad, and the evidence clearly shows that the motorist did not stop at the crossing. Regardless of this litigation's ultimate outcome, BNSF recognizes the loss suffered by the Spence family and again extends its condolences.”