Railroad pays $550,000 to settle trestle death cases

Court documents have disclosed the amount paid by Norfolk Southern companies to settle lawsuits filed by families of two teenage boys killed by a train in 2011. Each case was resolved for $275,000, according to The Roanoke Times.

The two boys had been crossing a Norfolk Southern trestle in Montgomery County when they were struck by a train.

The families claimed the railroad knew the trestle was used by people to access a state-owned nature preserve, but failed to properly address the danger. The railroad denied liability.

Each family will receive a total of $120,000 after deductions for attorneys’ fees and litigation expenses, the paper reported.

The settlement terms were approved by Circuit Judge Colin Gibb, who told the families he thought it was a good thing they were settling since trial would have been difficult.