A Washington resident has filed a lawsuit against a California county, alleging negligence after a train collision left him with severe injuries. The complaint was lodged by Pete Fabey in the Superior Court for the State of California, County of Ventura, on August 22, 2025, naming the County of Ventura as the defendant.
The case stems from an incident on June 28, 2023, when Fabey was aboard an Amtrak train that collided with a water truck operated by the County of Ventura. According to the complaint, the train was traveling at 66 miles per hour when it struck the truck at a crossing in Moorpark, California. The collision caused the train to derail and resulted in numerous injuries among passengers and crew members. Fabey claims he suffered significant injuries to his back, neck, and shoulder due to being thrown against a wall during the crash.
Fabey’s lawsuit accuses the County of Ventura of gross negligence for failing to ensure safe operation at railroad crossings. Specifically, he alleges that Angel Gurrola, a county maintenance worker driving the water truck, ignored posted stop signs and failed to yield to the approaching train. The suit further contends that this negligence is part of a pattern by Ventura County employees at similar crossings over recent years.
In his complaint, Fabey points out that there have been previous incidents at this particular crossing involving Amtrak trains and vehicles. He argues that despite this history and publicly available information about such dangers, the county failed to install adequate safety measures like automated gates or warning lights.
The plaintiff seeks compensation for damages estimated in hundreds of thousands of dollars due to lost wages, medical expenses, and diminished earning capacity resulting from his injuries. He also requests exemplary damages or increased general damages as allowed by law.
Representing Fabey is attorney C.N. Coby Cohen from Rossi Vucinovich PC based in Seattle. The case is identified under Case No. 2025 CUIPPO49470 with Judge Maryssa Padilla presiding over proceedings.
Source: 2025CUPP049470_Pete_Fabey_v_County_of_Ventura_Complaint_County_of_Ventura.pdf
Source: 2025CUPP049470_Pete_Fabey_v_County_of_Ventura_Complaint_County_of_Ventura.pdf
Source: 2025CUPP049470_Pete_Fabey_v_County_of_Ventura_Complaint_County_of_Ventura.pdf
