LOUISVILLE,Ky. (WHAS 11)--Louisville Metro Government reached an agreement Sept.29 to settle the last pending claim related to the June 1, 2009 train accident at the Louisville Zoo.
The agreement, reached during mediation on behalf of five people who were injured during the accident, is for $6 million.
Settlements had previously been reached with 26 other claimants related to the same accident. Those settlements totaled $662,499.
All legal actions related to this matter are now complete.
Official Louisville Zoo statement regarding train settlement:
This has been difficult for all involved and we believe settlement is in the best interest of all parties so that we can bring this to conclusion and move forward. Since the incident occurred in June 2009, the Zoo has invested in new equipment, procedures and training to continue to enhance safety.
Chris and Amanda Lankford and their two young children will receive part of the $6 million settlement. They were seriously injured when the miniature zoo train they were riding went too fast around a curve, derailed and flipped onto its side in June of 2009.
Their two children, then under the age of two, had head injuries, Amanda had a back injury and Chris had his leg pinned under the train. He still suffers from the injury even today.
"The incident drastically changed our lives. There have been challenges and struggles that they have been a lot and there are many to face ahead. Our hope has always been in Jesus Christ, and he always will be our hope. He is who has seen us through this entire process," Amanda Lankford said.
Lankford explains how the accident affected her family.
"A lot of people ask how our life is different now. Six years ago I stayed home with our babies. That is what I always had wanted to do. I was going to be a stay at home mom and be with them, this changed that. After that I had to work and I was thankful for the opportunities I've had to work but you can't bring back the time you miss with your kids and that has been one of the harder things to deal with personally for me. It was not what we have planned, but it has still worked out and I am thankful for that but that has been a drastic change for us," Lankford said.
The new train opened in summer of 2013 after the Zoo invested in new train equipment and implemented additional safety procedures and new staff training.
The following is a list of features about the new train:
• The Zoo purchased two new trains from Severn Lamb, a British company who manufactures trains for Disney.
• Each train has three passenger cars trailing for a total capacity of approximately 90.
• The train's operational system is equipped with safety redundancy features.
• Each train has both an engineer and a conductor and both have access to the braking system.
• The train has a fail-safe braking system where the engineer's foot is always on the proximity pedal and once their foot is removed from the proximity pedal the full braking is engaged.
• The train has a hydrostatic drive system so when the throttle is released the train automatically slows to a stop.
• They are equipped with a speedometer, are speed-governed and cannot exceed 10 mph.
• A professional ride consultant prepared our operations manuals and provides ongoing staff training and is on-site at the Zoo at least 3 times a year to check in.
• Tickets are $3.75 for the 17 minute ride around the Zoo.
