Former railroad engineer sues UP for more than $150K in rollover crash

A former railroad engineer blames Union Pacific and a transportation company for a rollover crash he says left him permanently injured.

Scott D. Nation filed the lawsuit against Professional Transportation Inc., Nolan B. Hawkins Jr. and Union Pacific Railroad Company Sept. 30 in St. Clair County Circuit Court.

Nation says the three defendants are responsible for an alleged crash that happened in October 2008 on Highway 100 in Osage County, Missouri while Nation was working as an engineer.

Nation says Hawkins was working for Professional Transportation Inc. and was responsible for driving Nation from one work site to another. According to the complaint, Hawkins was on Highway 100 near the intersection of County Road 219 when he missed a curve, drove off the road and rolled the vehicle down and embankment.

Nation says he suffered severe and permanent injuries in the crash and, as a result, has been unable to work or participate in the activities he enjoyed before the incident.

Nation contends the defendants are liable for damages because Hawkins negligently failed to drive at a proper speed, failed to slow down to avoid leaving the road and failed to keep a proper lookout.

Nation is asking to be awarded more than $50,000 in damages from each defendant for physical pain, mental anguish, medical expenses and court costs.

William P. Gavin of the Gavin Law Firm in Belleville is representing Nation.

St. Clair County Circuit Court Case No. 10-L-513