On March 23, 2011, SMART TD member Dwight Hauck nearly died in a horrific crew transport van-train collision in a Kelso, Washington, rail yard that killed two other passengers and the driver. Hauck suffered permanent, debilitating injuries as a result of the crash. The incident spurred SMART TD State Legislative Director Herb Krohn and other union leaders in the state of Washington to lobby reps to apply oversight protections regarding rail crew shuttle companies.
A legislative mandate that includes accident tracking, driver drug testing and regular vehicle inspections is expected to become state law in Washington within the next few weeks.
Click here to read the article and to view the video interview with Mr. Mr. Hauck, posted on Northwest Public Radio.org.
SMART Union