Engineer of Train in Crash That Killed 16 Admits Guilt

A Conrail engineer who ran a stop signal and crashed into an Amtrak passenger train, killing 16 people, pleaded guilty to one count of manslaughter Tuesday and faces a maximum sentence of five years in jail.

Ricky L. Gates, 33, who was scheduled to begin a trial on 16 counts of manslaughter by locomotive, was operating three Conrail engines on Jan. 4, 1987, when they skidded in front of the Amtrak train that was carrying 660 people. The worst accident in Amtrak’s history also left 170 people injured.

Gates was granted the guilty verdict after attorneys agreed to include in the single misdemeanor count the names of all 16 fatalities. Prosecutors reserved the right to ask for the maximum sentence of five years in jail and a $1,000 fine.

Sentencing Set for March

Baltimore County Circuit Judge Joseph F. Murphy set sentencing for March 29.

Despite the admission by brakeman Edward Cromwell that he and Gates had smoked marijuana in the cab, prosecutors said expert witnesses were “unable to render an opinion regarding impairment.” Blood and urine samples showed that both men tested positive for marijuana.

Cromwell, who was not charged, was granted immunity from prosecution and had been scheduled to testify against Gates.

“This is the first-ever manslaughter by locomotive verdict,” said Sandra O’Connor, Baltimore County state’s attorney and the chief prosecutor. “This will send a message that (operators) cannot work under the kind of negligence that Mr. Gates did.”

Appeals Ruling Cited

She said, however, that prosecutors were not certain that the judge would have sentenced Gates, if convicted, to 16 consecutive five-year terms. O’Connor said one reason she decided to accept the plea agreement was a recent federal appeals court ruling against automatic post-accident drug testing for all railroad workers.

After the hearing, Gates told reporters: “I am ultimately responsible for the crash and for my negligence. I can’t begin to imagine the pain and grief of the families. I am sorry.”

A statement agreed to by both sides blamed Gates for missing two track signals and allowing the locomotives to skid through a switch where four tracks converge into two.

The statement blamed Gates for failing to replace a cab warning light bulb and fix a whistle that was taped over. Either warning device would have alerted Gates to the stop signals, it said.