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, 02:49, May 17, 2015
'''Brandon Bostian''' was the Amtrak train engineer (driver) who was at the controls on May 12, 2015, when his northbound train accelerated sharply just prior to entering a curve at more than double the speed limit.<ref>http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/amtrak-crash/amtrak-crash-train-was-gaining-speed-it-approached-curve-n359191</ref> The train then derailed, killing eight people and injuring more than 200, and as of four days after the crash 17 passengers continued to be hospitalized.<ref>http://www.cnn.com/2015/05/16/us/philadelphia-amtrak-train-derailment/</ref> Bostian himself was treated for injuries and released by a hospital the same day of the crash.
Bostian subsequently told investigators that he could not recall any of the facts surrounding the crash, although on the same day after the crash he did reportedly speak with a friend and edit his Facebook profile to darken his image.
When Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter criticized Bostian, not by name, for the reckless speed, the media and the NTSB lashed back at ... Nutter. The media then published stories from friends of Bostian who praised him. The NTSB claimed that Bostian was "extremely cooperative" with the investigation, even though he asserted that he could not recall the circumstances of the crash.
Bostian had publicly criticized the government for not installing technology to prevent the same type of crash in which he participated. Bostian had also been a homosexual activist in support of same-sex marriage, which may explain the media support of him now. Bostian was quoted as saying:<ref>http://themidtowngazette.com/2012/10/campaign-for-marriage-equality-continues-in-new-york/</ref>
{{cquote|It’s kind of insulting to have to beg people for my right to marry. I feel like we shouldn’t even have to have this fight.}}
Bostian retained an attorney quickly after the crash, and Bostian has not appeared in the media himself to explain the excessive speeding and his role in it.
As of four days after the massive crash, Wikipedia still lacked a substantive entry for Brandon Bostian. Meanwhile the [[liberal]] ''Daily Beast'' ran a headline claiming "How Congress Caused the Amtrak Crash."<ref>http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/05/15/how-congress-caused-the-amtrak-crash.html</ref>
== References ==
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