TACOMA — BNSF Railway is asking a judge to prevent the Pierce County Medical Examiner from obtaining video showing the moments before a man was killed by a train, citing privacy concerns.
Medical Examiner Thomas Clark said his investigators need a copy of the video to determine the manner of death of Ronnie Stirgus, 50. The video shows Stirgus walking on snowy rails Feb. 5 in Puyallup before he was hit by a train, The News Tribune reported. Police have said the man appeared to slip or stumble as the locomotive approached.
Clark said he used his subpoena power, by calling an inquest into Stirgus’ death, to obtain the video.
“That is the only place that the medical examiner is allowed to issue a subpoena,” Clark told the newspaper.
BNSF has asked a Pierce County Superior Court Judge to stop Clark from enforcing a subpoena for the footage. The judge agreed April 12 to do that until a hearing next month.
