BUFFALO, N.Y. — The sole legal guardian and father of a 6-year-old boy killed in an crash involving a train in North Tonawanda is now being represented by a local law firm.
Ra'Mari Geldart was killed in the fatal collision involving an Amtrak passenger train on May 17. David McGinn, 69, and Olive Geldart, 66, both of North Tonawanda, were also killed in the crash.
Police say a pickup truck carrying the three people turned off River Road onto Felton Street and stopped in the middle of train tracks, as the railroad’s gates closed around them.
An oncoming Amtrak train struck the pickup truck, pushing it several hundred feet and killing all three passengers.
Authorities say they are still unsure why the truck stopped on the tracks, but they confirmed that a traffic stop was taking place directly on the other side of the tracks.
“The initial reporting in the media raises significant questions about the conduct of all parties who were in control of the Felton Street railroad crossing; all parties except one: Ra’Mari,” said Todd Schiffmacher, one of the attorneys representing the legal guardian and father.
“Ra’Mari was a pure victim in this tragic accident, and his death at this young age has been profoundly felt by his family. We will find out how this accident happened, and we will work to make sure nothing like this happens in our community again.”
The law firm did not identify the names of the sole legal guardian or the father of Re'Mari Geldart.
According to accident records kept by the Federal Railroad Administration, there have been 28 train-vehicle accidents in North Tonawanda since 1976.
6 of those crashes were deadly, with another 6 people injured.
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