An Anoka County jury has ordered Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad to pay $24 million to the families of four victims killed by a BNSF train almost five years ago.
"The verdict helped, but it won't replace her," said David Shannon, father of one of the victims, 17-year-old Bridgette Shannon,
Bridgette was riding south on Ferry Road in Anoka with three friends: 20-year-olds Brian Frazier and Corey Chase, and 19-year-old Harry Rhodes, when they were struck and killed by a BNSF train travelling 60 mph.
"I feel vindicated. I feel like our children were finally heard," said Bridgette's mother, Denise.
Throughout the six week trial, BNSF maintained that the victims were trying to beat the train when they were hit.
The jury found that the crossing was faulty and the victims weren't properly warned that a train was coming.
The railroad still disagrees. It released a statement saying, "BNSF is disappointed with the verdict and while we have deep sympathy for the families of the victims of this tragic event, we believe the verdict should be reversed on appeal."
With another legal battle looming, the Shannon family doesn't want one lesson learned from this tragedy to be lost.
"The reality is if you want to safely proceed through that crossing, you need to stop, look and listen," Dave Shannon said.
"I stop every single time I go over that intersection now," said Denise Shannon. "I stop, I look, I say 'I love you guys,' and then I go."
(Copyright 2008 by KARE. All Rights Reserved.)
