The LA Times has published more details about the life and history of the man at the controls of an Amtrak commuter train that derailed this week, killing eight people and injuring more than 200 others.
The profile paints a picture of a man who was deeply passionate about rail safety, and who, as an adult, had fulfilled a childhood dream of being a train engineer.
Less than a few hours after the crash, friends reached out to him on social media, expressing shock and support.
“Praying for you my friend! And everyone else onboard.”
“Yes, it happened to you, but it could have been any of us,” wrote another.
Bostian, 32, was at the controls when the Amtrak train reached 106 miles per hour, derailing and crashing in Philadelphia.
Here are four things to know about Brandon Bostian, according to the LA Times:
1. Bostian’s blood test taken after the crash revealed that he had not been drinking or doing drugs, and that he had no medical issues that were apparent in the results, according to his attorney, Robert Goggin.
2. Bostian’s cellphone was turned off and put away, complying with Amtrak regulations, Goggin said.
3. Bostian had expressed a desire to work in the railroad industry "from the start," according to one friend, who described Bostian in the LA Times article as "dependable and trustworthy."
4. Bostian was fastidious and passionate about safety. He was a frequent poster on internet boards about the train industry, calling for more active safety measures. In 2009, Bostian wrote that he supported more regulations that limited the working hours of train operators in order to prevent fatigue-related accidents. In 2012 he expressed exasperation that a better signal system would have prevented a 2008 train collision that occurred in Chatworth, Illinois.
Goggin said Bostin suffered a concussion during the accident, and has no memory of the moments just before the crash.
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