Two S.C. Men Charged in Causing Amtrak Crash

(CN) - Two South Carolina men have been indicted on charges of causing a train-car collision as part of an insurance fraud scheme.

The indictment handed down by a grand jury in Columbia, S.C. charges James Duvall Love and Deon Dovell Roberts will engaging in a conspiracy to commit mail and fraud, causing a train wreck and unlawful interference with a train operator.

The indictment alleged that in the early morning hours of Sept. 6, 2013, the two men parked a car in the path of an oncoming Amtrak train, got out of the car prior to the collision, and then returned to the car after the collision, feigning injury, all for the purpose of submitting bogus claims for personal injuries and other losses.

The Hampton County Police Department later announced the car used to carry out the alleged conspiracy had been reported stolen from Varnville, S.C.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Amtrak Office of Inspector General, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, the Fairfax Police Department, and the Allendale County Sheriff's Department.

Subscribe to Closing Arguments

Sign up for new weekly newsletter Closing Arguments to get the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and hot cases and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world.

Email *

Submit