After investigating an April train derailment in Bennet, Nebraska, prosecutors say a 17-year-old intentionally caused the crash. The unnamed teen is believed to have filmed and posted the incident on his YouTube channel. The incident led to two felony charges in juvenile court, but prosecutors want him to be charged as an adult.
Video of the incident was posted April 23, 2024, to the Capitol City Rail Productions YouTube Channel, which investigators believe is linked to the teen. A male voice is heard narrating the scene and ultimately recording the derailment that prosecutors claim was caused intentionally.
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The teenager reportedly contacted police about the derailment.
According to court documents obtained by NBC News, the teenager contacted authorities to notify them of the train's derailment. A BSNF Regional investigator said they arrived on the scene, and the teen was there and asked what caused the crash.
An investigator told him it was undetermined, but the teen allegedly said, "Obviously, a switch was flipped the wrong way," court documents revealed.
It appears he was at the site at the time of the derailment, filming it and posting it on YouTube.
The teenager allegedly tampered with the rail.
He was charged with two felony counts of criminal mischief for allegedly tampering with the rails and causing two trains and five loaded BSNF cars to derail in Bennet on April 21, NBC News reported.
No one was hurt in the derailment, but there were at least $350,000 in damages caused by the crash. Per court documents, the conductor tried to stop the train in the moments before the collision but could not.
YouTube video details the day's events.
The video's caption promises a dramatic story. "Join us as we delve into the dramatic events that unfolded when a falsely set switch altered the course of destiny. Unbeknownst to the crew of the loaded arbor coal train, a parked deflective coal car lay in wait on the wrong track, setting the stage for disaster," it reads.
"Through captivating visuals and gripping narration, witness the thunderous clash as metal meets metal, and the miraculous emergence of the crew, unharmed but forever changed by the ordeal. Stay tuned as we explore the aftermath of this collision, raising questions about the fragility of fate and the lessons to be learned from this cautionary tale of missteps and resilience. Don't miss out on this compelling story of the collision of coal trains in Bennet, Nebraska—a reminder that in the world of railroads, every moment holds the weight of destiny."
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The suspect filmed the second the train derailed.
In his video, the suspect blames the crew for not resetting a faulty switch. He allegedly just happened to be there at the time of the derailment and was filming as a train enthusiast. He can be heard yelling, "Oh my God, oh my God," as the train goes off the tracks.
Court documents revealed that the teenager allegedly told the railway investigator he was a train enthusiast and showed him his video. He denied being in the area and tampering with the switch, but the investigator claimed the teen knew where the switch was and how it worked.
Lancaster County Attorney Patrick F. Condon filed a motion in court on July 24, to move the case from juvenile court and prosecute the teen as an adult.
