The engineer operating the train, identified to CNN as 32-year-old Brandon Bostian from New York, applied full emergency brakes "just moments" before the train derailed, according to Sumwalt. The train was traveling about 106 mph as it headed into a left turn. The speed limit immediately before the curve was 80 mph.
An official with direct knowledge of the investigation earlier said that authorities were focusing on speed as a possible cause, given the angles of the wreckage and type of damage to the cars. The recorder, or "black box," discovered at the scene could be pivotal by showing just that, former NTSB official John Goglia said.
Peter Goelz, once a top NTSB figure and now a CNN analyst, predicted that a definitive conclusion could come soon.
"I'm afraid that this train might be going too fast for this turn," he said.
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