Amtrak passenger claims sudden stopping motion caused her to fall

A railroad company responsible for maintaining the tracks near Granite City is accused of causing a woman to be hurt while riding the train.

Sandra K. Blanch filed a lawsuit Feb. 17 in Madison County Circuit Court against The Kansas City Railway Company, doing business as Kansas City Southern and Union Pacific Railroad Company. National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak, is also named as a defendant.

Blanch says she was riding the train in May 2010 on her way to Chicago. As the train passed near Granite City the engineer allegedly noticed a problem with the track and applied the brakes.

Blanch claims the sudden stopping motion caused her to fall and hurt herself.

She accuses Amtrak, Union Pacific and Kansas City Southern of negligence for failing to properly maintain the tracks in and around Granite City. She is asking for more than $150,000 in damages for medical expenses, loss of income and court costs.

Blanch is represented by attorney Keith Short of Wood River.

Madison County Circuit Court Case No. 11-L-156