March 11--Two people who were seriously injured in last month's Metrolink train crash near Oxnard filed lawsuits Wednesday in Ventura County Superior Court.
The cases were brought by Catherine Solner of Oxnard and Cheryl Hamilton of Port Hueneme, who were riding in train cars that overturned in the fiery collision at the Rice Avenue rail crossing on Feb. 24.
Solner and Hamilton were among 28 people injured when a Metrolink train traveling at 56 mph slammed into a Ford pickup truck and trailer that had turned onto the tracks. The engineer died of his injuries last week.
Named as defendants were the truck driver, Jose Alejandro Sanchez-Ramirez, and Harvest Management LLC, an Arizona produce company he worked for.
According to the lawsuit, Hamilton was hospitalized with a fractured spine, knee injuries and head trauma, including a concussion. Solner suffered head injuries, broken ribs and a fractured collar bone. Both have been unable to return to work.
Attorney Mark Hiepler, who is representing both women, said other defendants could be added to the lawsuits depending on the findings of several ongoing investigations into the crash, including ones by his firm and the National Transportation Safety Board.
The lawsuits are seeking damages according to proof.
