Amtrak Train Crash Probe Looks at Engineer's Cell Phone Use

Federal safety investigators said Wednesday the engineer of the Amtrak train involved in a fatal derailment in Philadelphia used his cell phone on the day of the crash, but it wasn't yet clear if he used it while operating the train.

The National Transportation Safety Board said investigators are "correlating time stamps" in the engineer's phone with "multiple data sources," including the locomotive event recorder and surveillance video.

The agency said the process is detailed and lengthy and didn't offer a timeline for announcing further results of its inquiry.

Amtrak Northeast Regional Train 188 derailed May 12 shortly as it entered a sharp curve while traveling at twice the posted speed limit. Eight people were killed, and more than 200 were injured. The train was heading north to New York from Washington.

The NTSB also said Wednesday that its examination of signal systems found no malfunctions or anomalies.

The agency said the engineer, Brandon Bostian, had been assigned to the Washington to New York route for several weeks prior to the accident. Mr. Bostian's attorney didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

Mr. Bostian has told investigators he doesn't remember the events immediately prior to the derailment or the accident itself. He suffered head injuries in the wreck, his lawyer has said.

Write to Kris Maher at [e-mail]

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