The National Transportation Safety Board ( NTSB ) investigation Scrutiny found Know that , while the bus driver was not aware that a portion of the bus was on the tracks as she should have been , the timing of signals was so insufficient that , even if she had identified Check the hazard as the train approached Arriving , she would have had to proceed Self_motion against a red traffic signal into the highway intersection to have moved Motion out of the train 's path .

Informational decals were also added Cause_to_be_included to Illinois school buses advising Telling drivers of the length of each bus , since the substitute school bus driver was apparently unaware of the exact length of the bus she was driving .

The National Transportation Safety Board ruled Legal_rulings that the derailment Catastrophe was caused Causation by the train 's engineer ( driver ) becoming Becoming distracted by other radio transmissions and losing Earnings_and_losses situational awareness , and said Statement that it would have been prevented Preventing_or_letting by positive train control , a computerized speed-limiting system that was operational Being_in_operation elsewhere on the Northeast Corridor , but whose activation Being_in_operation at the wreck site had been delayed Hindering due Causation to regulatory requirements .

The driver of the Glasgow train leapt clear prior to the impact and survived though badly injured Bodily_harm , but both firemen and the driver of the other train along with 15 passengers were killed Killing and 35 injured Bodily_harm .

The driver of the Glasgow train leapt clear prior to the impact and survived though badly injured Bodily_harm , but both firemen and the driver of the other train along with 15 passengers were killed Killing and 35 injured Bodily_harm .

Gates found Know the front door to his home jammed shut and , with the help Assistance of his driver , tried to force Motion it open .

With speed down to a crawl the 'home ' signal was lowered Cause_change_of_position_on_a_scale , the driver assumed Deciding , wrongly , that with no other fixed signals Warning to Cherry Tree Lane his route was clear and speed gradually rose Cause_change_of_position_on_a_scale .

The driver applied Using the 'simple ' vacuum brake Self_motion and threw Motion the locomotive into reverse but could not stop Process_end within the short distance of less than 250 yards .

The trial of the driver and fireman at York , before the Lord Chief Justice was the first big legal Legality case Criminal_investigation in which the newly formed Coming_to_be trade union A.S.L.E.F .

The management were `` thick skinned Emptying '' over all safety matters and in this case Sir Edward Watkin , the company chairman , said Communication `` ... it was a misfortune Catastrophe that the Lord Chief Justice should have exonerated Judgment_communication the driver and fireman '' .

The leading bogie of the EMU derailed Self_motion and the train immediately collided with the solid structure Building of the overbridge , crushing Bodily_harm the driver 's cab , killing Killing driver Arthur McKee , 35 , and also killing Killing passenger Alan Nicol , 21 , who was seated Placing immediately behind the cab , with his back to the partition .

The leading bogie of the EMU derailed Self_motion and the train immediately collided with the solid structure Building of the overbridge , crushing Bodily_harm the driver 's cab , killing Killing driver Arthur McKee , 35 , and also killing Killing passenger Alan Nicol , 21 , who was seated Placing immediately behind the cab , with his back to the partition .

However the driver of the second train had briefly glimpsed Perception_active the flag and stopped Preventing_or_letting his train inside the tunnel .