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'''Brandon Bostian''' was the 32-year-old [[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; 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.
'''Brandon Bostian''' was the 32-year-old [[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; 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 has been a [[homosexual]] activist in support of [[same-sex marriage]], which may explain the media support for him after the crash. Bostian was quoted in 2012 as saying:<ref>http://themidtowngazette.com/2012/10/campaign-for-marriage-equality-continues-in-new-york/</ref>
Bostian was born in St. Louis, Missouri. His parents, Betty Deene Bostian and M Gregory Bostian, are attorneys who raised him in Memphis, Tennessee. He attended Altruria Elementary, Elmore Park Middle School and Bartlett High School where Bostian graduated in 2001. Bostian graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia, College of Business, with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Management in 2006.<ref name=mail>{{cite news|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3082022/Speeding-Amtrak-driver-living-dream-Engineer-obsessed-railroads-bring-subway-maps-vacation-souvenirs.html|title=Speeding Amtrak driver called for train safety technology on curves like one he drove into at 102mph and had been 'obsessed by trains' from childhood|date=May 14, 2015|work=Daily Mail|accessdate=May 12, 2017}}</ref>
Bostian has been active on social media and train websites advocating for better train safety features and stricter limits on how long a train crew can remain on duty.<ref name=mail/>
Bostian has been a [[homosexual]] activist in support of [[same-sex marriage]]. Bostian was quoted in 2012 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.}}
{{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.}}
After the derailment, Bostian told investigators that he could not recall any of the facts surrounding the crash, although on the same day as the crash he did subsequently edit his Facebook profile to darken his image, and also spoke with a friend. Bostian was an expert on trains, with one friend saying he was "obsessed" with them.<ref name="students">http://www.localmemphis.com/story/d/story/high-school-friends-speak-about-bostian/20131/PM-0mEr8TkeTyRPJahLu9w</ref>
After the derailment, Bostian told investigators that he could not recall any of the facts surrounding the crash, although on the same day as the crash he did subsequently edit his Facebook profile to darken his image, and also spoke with a friend. Bostian was an expert on trains, with one friend saying he was "obsessed" with them.<ref name="students">http://www.localmemphis.com/story/d/story/high-school-friends-speak-about-bostian/20131/PM-0mEr8TkeTyRPJahLu9w</ref>
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. Mayor Nutter dismissed the theory, raised by an unidentified person at the press conference, that an object such as a rock may have struck the train, causing the crash.<ref>http://www.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1505/13/cnr.06.html</ref>
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. Mayor Nutter dismissed the theory, raised by an unidentified person at the press conference, that an object such as a rock may have struck the train, causing the crash.<ref>http://www.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1505/13/cnr.06.html</ref> On May 12, 2017, the Pennsylvania Attorney General charged Bostian with multiple serious crimes for the derailment.<ref>http://courts.phila.gov/news/pic/CR-1705129509/index.asp</ref>
== Prior Public Statements about Trains ==
== Prior Public Statements about Trains ==
As of six 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>
As of six days after the massive crash, 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>
== Attorney for several victims ==
== Attorney for several victims ==