Teenager Accused of Derailing Trains for YouTube Videos
A teenager faces serious charges for derailing trains to film videos for YouTube, causing $350,000 in damages
A 17-year-old in Nebraska has been charged with two felonies for allegedly derailing trains to capture "amazing" footage for his YouTube channel. The incident, which occurred on April 21 in Bennet, was recorded and shared by the teen.
In the five-minute video titled "THE MOST AMAZING VIDEO I'VE EVER TAKEN!", the teenager can be heard repeatedly exclaiming "Oh my God! Oh my God!" as two locomotives and five fully-loaded railcars derail after colliding with an empty railcar. Fortunately, no one was injured, although the damage amounts to $350,000.
The teenager was the first to report the derailment, even showing the footage to an investigator at the scene. He was formally charged after authorities obtained a search warrant to confiscate his cell phone and a 4K digital recorder used to film the incident. The video was also shared with a local news station, according to a local media outlet.
A train conductor informed investigators that he noticed a misaligned switch as his train approached a crossing. Despite attempting an emergency stop, he was unable to prevent the derailment.
The investigator discovered that the switch lock had been tampered with. The teenager denied trespassing and tampering with the switch, although authorities found evidence to the contrary, including surveillance footage showing a vehicle and the teen near the tracks before the accident.
He faces two charges of criminal mischief exceeding $5,000 each, both considered felonies. Potential penalties include a $15,000 fine and up to seven years in prison for each charge.