The wreck was the bloodiest in Amtrak's history. On Jan. 4, 1987, a string of Conrail locomotives rolled past warning signals near Baltimore and collided with a high-speed passenger train carrying more than 600 people. The fiery crash killed 16 and injured 176. Public dismay turned to anger when it was revealed that engineer Ricky Gates had been smoking marijuana at the controls of the Conrail train. Gates admitted the drug use and pleaded guilty to manslaughter after a urine test, required by the Government of railroad employees involved in serious accidents, revealed traces of marijuana. The tragedy fueled public support...
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