Laramie County Sheriff: Train Engineer Was Impaired, Aggressive

Laramie County Sheriff Brian Kozak says a Union Pacific train engineer was arrested for reckless endangerment and stalking following an incident on Friday after allegedly being high on drugs and fighting with the train conductor.;

The sheriff says the incident happened on Friday afternoon on a train that was headed westbound out of Nebraska towards Cheyenne on an eight-hour trip.

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"The conductor noticed that the engineer was in no condition to operate the train. (He) was extremely impaired, was violent, was erratic in behavior" Kozak says in a video that was posted on the sheriff's office Facebook page. [See video below].

Train Had Hazardous Materials On Board

Kozak says the train was carrying hazardous materials, including diesel fuel, liquid petroleum gas, ammonia nitrate residue and asphalt.

Kozak says they were able to stop the train before it entered the Cheyenne rail yard. The conductor was able to call a supervisor, who called law enforcement.

Kozak says before law enforcement arrived, the engineer became violent to the point where the conductor had to lock himself in one of the engines to avoid being assaulted by the engineer.

Kozak says deputies arrived, a drug recognition expert was able to determine that the engineer--identified in court records as Kristopher Richards, born in 1979--was under the influence of drugs;

But Kozak says under state law, train operators are exempt from DUI laws that apply to motor vehicles. Court records show Richards as currently being charged with reckless endangerment, being under the influence of a controlled substance, and interference with a peace officer.

The sheriff says of the conductor and the railroad "I think they saved lives" by reporting the engineer.

Union Pacific Railroad, when asked for comment, sent Townsquare Media the following via email  "We do not discuss specific personnel matters. What I can tell you is that safety is Union Pacific’s top priority. We follow all Federal Railroad Administration drug and alcohol regulations."

At last report on Wednesday morning, Richards was still in jail.

Sheriff Kozak's video on the impaired engineer incident: