A 22-year-old disgruntled employee in Wyoming allegedly hijacked a train from his mining company and intentionally crashed it into two other trains last week after becoming upset with his supervisor, The Gillette News Record reported. No injuries were reported.
Derek Skyler Brux, a utility coal operator for Rail Link, ran through several road switches and put dozens of railroad workers in grave danger during his 13-mile journey. On Friday, he was charged with reckless endangering, felony destruction of property and felony destruction, and obstruction or removal of railroad track or fixtures.
Occurring around 9: 00 a.m. on Thursday, an upset Skyler unhooked the train cars from North Antelope Rochelle mine after his supervisor responded unfavorably to his concerns about work conditions. According to a probable cause affidavit, he then drove the cars in a "loop" at the work site and, in the process, destroyed some equipment.
Next, he contacted rail dispatch to alert unsuspecting personnel about his plan to head onto the main line, authorities said. Speeding the locomotive to an estimated 60 miles per hour, the rogue employee then rammed through a $50,000 switch, according to Consumerist.
As the train passed through a construction area near a highway crossing with "a lot of workers" around, the employee blew the locomotive's horn as it was going between 50 mph and 70 mph, he told authorities in an affidavit.
On more than one occasion, Peabody Energy Corp. and Burlington Northern Sante Fe tried to unsuccessfully stop the locomotive over a five mile stretch, Inquisitr reported.
After traveling for approximately 13 miles, the man allegedly crashed into another trail located at a line junction. Then, he backed his locomotive up and hit another train. Both collisions were reported to be under 10 mph, according to police estimates.
The man was apprehended by deputies as he was fleeing the scene on foot.
Skyler said he "wanted to see what it was like to hit something, so I hit at it," according to the police affidavit.
