Union Pacific sued by worker injured after derailment

A railroad employee claims Union Pacific is to blame for injuries he says he received while walking around the tracks following a derailment.

Justin Alexander filed a lawsuit June 16 in St. Clair County Circuit Court against Union Pacific Railroad Company. Alexander accuses his employer of failing to provide a safe working environment.

Alexander says he was working for Union Pacific in the brakeman craft in February when the train he was required to ride allegedly derailed. Alexander says the conductor immediately informed the supervisor who allegedly ordered both men to report to an area about 300 yards away from where the train left the tracks.

Alexander says the supervisor later ordered him to get a broom and deliver it to the train. He says snow had fallen and covered the ground.

While walking to the train with the broom, Alexander says he stepped in a snow-covered hole and seriously hurt his knee. He contends Union Pacific is responsible for the injury for allegedly using defective equipment to avoid a derailment, ordering him to walk through snow across potentially dangerous areas and for failing to warn him about the hole.

Alexander is asking for more than $50,000 in damages to compensate for pain and suffering, mental anguish, medical costs, loss of income and disability.

Attorney William P. Gavin of Belleville is representing Alexander.

St. Clair County Circuit Court Case No. 11-L-280.