Matt Hughes suing train operator

[Hong Kong Phooey]

UFC Hall of Famer Matt Hughes suffered severe injuries in a near-fatal train accident in 2017. Now he’s going after the company he alleges caused the crash.

Hughes, via his attorneys, allege Norfolk Southern Railway and several of its employees were negligent in failing to warn motorists of dangerous conditions at the railroad crossing where his Chevrolet Z71 truck collided with a nMatt Hughes suing train operator at center of near-fatal accidentorthbound train. His estranged wife, Audra, is named as a co-plaintiff.

Per the complaint, filed June in Montgomery County (Ill.) Circuit Court, Hughes’ attorneys claim Norfolk Southern Railway didn’t have adequate warning signs at the crossing and knew it “posed a grave danger to the public” given its placement and visibility.

Hughes’ attorneys also claim the ex-UFC welterweight champ was lawfully driving when his vehicle when he was struck and “thrown dozens of feet,” resulting in “severe, progressive and permanent brain and bodily injuries,” according to the complaint.

Matt and Audra Hughes each seek in excess of $50,000, attorneys costs, and other relief allowed by the court. Multiple calls to Matt Hughes’ attorneys of record, Steven Grovea and Patrick Hagery, were not immediately returned.

Matt Hughes suing train operator at center of near-fatal accident

 

[Hong Kong Phooey]

The complaint also notes damages suffered by Audra Hughes for medical expenses and treatment “for which she will now and in the future be obligated” and “the society, companionship and relationship with her husband of which she has been deprived.”

The lawsuit was filed four months after Matt Hughes filed for divorce from Audra Hughes, who this past December obtained a restraining order against her estranged husband, alleging domestic violence; Matt Hughes filed an order for mediation earlier this month.

The restraining order was one of two filed against Matt Hughes by his close family members. He recently agreed with a settlement with his twin brother Mark Hughes, who accused him of roughing up his son in a dispute over a tractor.

Following the allegations of domestic violence, Matt Hughes released a statement attributing his family troubles to the physical difficulties he’s encountered while recovering from his accident. Via his attorney, Mark Hughes agreed with his brother’s statement and hoped they could reconcile in the future.

 

[Inside Job]

not buying the official story

 

[Jdog93]

 

[jimmy boogaloo]

read title, laughed in a dismissive way like a complete asshole

 

[aghof]

isn't it pretty much impossible to stop a train in time to avoid hitting someone driving across an unmarked crossing? Is he claiming the guy should have been able to see him from really, really far away and conclude he was trying to cross the tracks on a slight incline and his tires were spinning in the gravel or whatever he was officially supposed to be doing? ...or else the guy wasn't blowing the whistle enough?

EDIT: ha, I read the article excerpt now and realize he's not suing the actual driver of the train, but the company operating the train service!

 

[Robbie Hart]

£50,000??????

That’s not a lot for a negligence case like that where you almost got killed and are permanently disabled imo

His life has been changed forever, £50k is a weak ask......just a drop in the bucket compared to what I would expect

 

[Onetrickpony]

£50,000??????

That’s not a lot for a negligence case like that where you almost got killed and are permanently disabled imo

His life has been changed forever, £50k is a weak ask......just a drop in the bucket compared to what I would expect

$50,000 USD = £39,826.50 pounds sterling

 

[Robbie Hart]

$50,000 USD = £39,826.50 pounds sterling

I meant that

Sorry for using the more powerful currency

 

[Filthy]

the actual amount claimed isn't specified, only that it's in excess of $50k. Not sure if they mean it's ~ 50k or if they only know from court filings/attorneys that its over some legal threshold of damage claims. Dunno.

But rural crossings are notoriously under-maintained, does seem surprising that they're only now bringing litigation. If it was egregious or an obvious contributor, I think they would have sued right away.

 

[jimmy boogaloo]

I meant that

Sorry for using the more powerful currency

in November I will quote this post again lolz

 

[Onetrickpony]

I meant that

Sorry for using the more powerful currency

I thought you may have forgotten where you came from.

 

[Robbie Hart]

in November I will quote this post again lolz

I hope it happens now as I’m having my 401k transferred over now......please Boris the buffoon, please do something diabolically stupid to continue to hurt the conversion rate

 

[jimmy boogaloo]

hey fuck you. please spread vaseline all over your feet and carry a tray full of pint glasses and hammers down some winding steps.

 

[ranier wolfcastle]

u just need eyes

 

[Filthy]

u just need eyes

that has been mowed and spayed very recently...if the grass is 3' tall (which it probably usually is) then it might not be so easy to see.

again, it's weird that they waited so long and might be asking for so relatively little. Might just be trying to get what they can, since Matt isn't going to be earning for the rest of his life.

 

[Robbie Hart]

u just need eyes

How the fuck can you not have lights and a gate?

Been a while since I’ve been in the states, but that’s Russian roulette, particularly with some of the lack of awareness of a lot of people in the states thinking “I’m protected, nothing to worry about, they wouldn’t let me drive into an oncoming train......let me cross and finish my text while I do”

 

[ranier wolfcastle]

guess they figured u can see if a train is coming....
i thought it was a fact hughes was attempting suicide though

 

[Splinty]

How the fuck can you not have lights and a gate?

Been a while since I’ve been in the states, but that’s Russian roulette, particularly with some of the lack of awareness of a lot of people in the states thinking “I’m protected, nothing to worry about, they wouldn’t let me drive into an oncoming train......let me cross and finish my text while I do”

It's in a corn field in the middle of nowhere

 

[Splinty]

u just need eyes

based on news reports of the street, I believe its here

Google Maps

Another pic

walking up to it

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=775&v=4EoHhVWjOoA&t=12m55s

 

[Robbie Hart]

It's in a corn field in the middle of nowhere

Are they asking people to die?

If so, job almost done

 

[Filthy]

How the fuck can you not have lights and a gate?

Been a while since I’ve been in the states, but that’s Russian roulette, particularly with some of the lack of awareness of a lot of people in the states thinking “I’m protected, nothing to worry about, they wouldn’t let me drive into an oncoming train......let me cross and finish my text while I do”

it's all over in the Midwest...you couldn't have railroads if you put lights and gates where every gravel road crossed the rail.
it's just a fact of life, like how sometimes they let the weeds and bramble grow around the crossing.

 

[Filthy]

Here's one in Oregon that I used to traverse all the time.

Google Maps

that's in town.

 

[kneeblock]

Norfolk Southern trains are huge freight trains that make a lot of noise.

 

[nuraknu]

Level crossings are a big problem. I have lived in a rural place where they were a problem and a suburban/urban place where they are a problem. Yes, he did something he shouldn't have and I'm not sure he should get anything from it, but if any good comes out of this at all in terms of signage or fencing or anything, I will be glad.

Yes, people should know better. But they don't, we see it over and over again, and people on the trains get hurt too. Okay to push for some new strategies, imo.