CHARLOTTE — The rail controller throughout in 2015’s light rail derailment is submitting a claim versus the City of Charlotte for wrongful termination.
Terry Creech declares he was unlawfully fired after the derailment of a Charlotte Area Transit System light rail in May 2022. In the claim, Creech implicates CATS of “actively concealing public information relating to budget, equipment, and personnel,” declaring the firm’s basic supervisor and others “concealed evidence of the derailment.”
Creech said his workplace was “hostile” and his basic supervisor was “abusive,” stating he typically worked shifts as the sole controller in the Rail Operations Control Center. He said that suggested he was charged with keeping an eye on 2 railway, both security feeds, and numerous storage lawns.
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“As SOLE controller, Mr. Creech would often be unable to access his supervisors or anyone else for assistance,” the claim says.
The claim declares Creech reported the derailment in May 2022 and was fraudulently ended later. He said he followed procedure to reroute traffic after the derailment and closed the impacted line for examination. He said he was the sole controller that night.
“Mr. Creech attempted to contact his supervisors but was unsuccessful for over an hour after the derailment occurred,” the claim checks out.
He implicates CATS of hiding proof of the derailment, which he said referred public safety.
“In concealing this cover-up, general manager and other conspirators, referenced the derailment in question while terminating Mr. Creech but concealed further information from official records.”
Creech implicates the basic supervisor and others of falsifying details, stating they fraudulently implicated him of 2 safety infractions over the derailment “while mischaracterizing to the general public that the in fact derailment was merely a ‘system error.’” He said CATS declared he devoted a “safety error” since an operator didn’t await his appropriate clearance. He said CATS likewise implicated him of making an inaccurate choice to divert traffic from the derailment.
According to the claim, the CATS CEO later on said there were no safety infractions.
“The ‘reasons’ for Mr. Creech’s termination were fraudulent to Mr. Creech and to the public,” the claim checks out. “While concealing the facts of the derailment, CATS terminated Mr. Creech in a hostile manner and discredited him from any future employment with the city. Mr. Creech was wrongfully discharged while carrying out a duty essential for public safety.”
Creech said he was ended not long after going back to work from FMLA leave.
He formerly spoke with our partners at the Charlotte Observer about his termination.
Creech is requesting for offsetting and compensatory damages, lawyer charges, and a jury trial.
Channel 9 has actually connected to CATS and to Creech’s lawyer about the claim.
(VIEW LISTED BELOW: CATS informed city supervisor day of light rail derailment)
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