Loved ones of two 19-year-old young women who died in a train derailment accident are grieving the fact that their lives ended so soon. The young women were killed when coal the train was transporting fell on them when the train derailed. The weight of the coal made it impossible for the deceased to breathe.

At the time of the incident, which occurred in an east coast state other than Pennsylvania, the women were standing a few feet away from the 9,000 ton train on what was described as a narrow bridge. A total of 21 cars came off the tracks spilling coal and making for a long and difficult cleanup.

It is currently not clear what caused the train to jump off the tracks. Representatives from the National Transportation Safety Board have been investigating the incident trying to determine the cause. Once the facts are collected it will likely take some time before a full report is complete.

No one is ever prepared to learn that someone they love has been killed. The families of these young women, who were both college students, must be absolutely devastated at the result of the freak accident. When someone who is in the prime of their lives as these two victims were, dies as the result of the negligence of another, it is not uncommon for a wrongful death lawsuit to be filed. Since the families have just laid their loved ones to rest it is really too soon to know if this will happen in this case. It is possible however that these civil lawsuits will be initiated.

Source: CBS News, "Funerals planned for train derailment victims," Aug. 23, 2012

• Fatal accidents are difficult to deal with. Our firm provides counsel in personal injury matters including these. If you would like to learn more about our practice, please visit our Pittsburgh train accident page.