the cause of last year's tragic amtrak crash in philadelphia was caused by the engineer being distracted by word of a nearby commuter train being hit by a rock. john rawlins was at the news conference -- >> we don't know for sure what was happening. >> the ntsb now believes that engineer brandon bostian was confused prior to last year's crash. the orange line on this map indicates how amtrak 188 moved north through philadelphia on the night of the crash. and bostian became involved in intense radio chatter, the issue the nearby septa train hit by rocks. >> with his attention diverted to the septa train the engineer may have lost situation ala wearness. >> the train was where the blue arrow points, but bostian

thought he was where the green arrow was past the curve and clear for high speed. that confusion cost eight lives. >> from the process of elimination that was our best conclusion as to why he was trying to accelerate. >> the temple professor attended the hearing, he understands the probable cause. >> but how do you do that when you are in charge of a seven car train. >> bostian remains employed but is on leave. as for a possible criminal investigation, two members of the philadelphia district attorney's office were here today and later d.a. seth williams will meet and decide what to do next. >> in washington john rawlins, channel 6 "action news." >> attorneys representing the victims of the amtrak crash, want engineer brandon bostian held accountable. they watched the hearing from

their philadelphia offices this morning. both question the ntsb's findings that bostian quote, lost situational awareness. and they take issue that his account of what happened changed several times. >> when someone selectively all a sudden i remember but i remember everything now other than the critical minute beforehand. where i would have to explain as to how this occurred. i don't buy that and i don't think the jury will buy it other. >> more than 120 separate civil complaints are filed from victims and their families. >> you can find all the details from the ntsb hearing in washington at 6abc.com, we also put video and photos from the amtrak crash and its aftermath at that page. and please follow the entire "action news" team on facebook and twitter for continuing coverage. traffic is still crawling on the schuylkill expressway after

a tractor trailer overturned and spilled its cargo all off the roadway. you can see it there. it happened shortly before 2:00 this afternoon in the eastbound lanes near girard avenue. two lanes are still closed and one lane is getting by and the driver was taken to penn presbyterian hospital with serious injuries. this is the way it looked in west philadelphia this morning as firefighters had to get down on their knees to rescue a man from a basement window. the house partially collapsed trapping the man in the base. but that is just where the story begins. sara bloomquist is live on the 100 block of southford street with that full story. >> reporter: jim, lni ordered the homeowner to make repairs because of code violation dating back to 2008 and that work was underway today when at least one floor collapsed. two work men had to be rescued along with a third man buried

beneath the debris who fell into the basement. >> rescue workers were called to southford after at least one floor collapsed in a row home on the block. >> i started to see the cop cars and service cars and emergency vehicles. >> two work men were helped from the home and they told firefighters that a third man was trapped in the basement. >> our understanding is at this point that that man was not part of the contractors crew and they had been in the building looking for scrap and that kind of thing. >> especially trained firefighters used airbags to lift the debris away from the man. after an hour they were able to free him from the rubble. >> he was removed and is alert and conscious and transferred to the hospital for evaluation. >> his truck piled high with scrap remained parked out fronts after the rescue and we could see the debris filled basement

and contractors were taking down the remaining roof using a chainsaw and two by four. this property is on lni's radar and the city ordered the repairs that were on the way when the collapse happened. >> i have been here for seven years, rain and snow is going through the house, it has no roof. >> we are used to the banging and stuff since last week. but we didn't know it was damaged to this excontents. >> some neighbors had to evacuate while the rescue was underway and they were allowed to return home once their properties were deemed safe. they tell me late this evening that the crew did have the proper demo permit and they do not expect charges but the investigation continues. live in west philadelphia, i'm sara bloomquist, channel 6 "action news." >> thank you. a tractor trailer caught fire causing major delays this

morning in bellmawr, the blaze blocked the route 42 ramp to 295, the driver suffered minor injuries and this area is part of a construction project going on since 2014. a substitute female teacher who worked at easton area high school is in trouble with the law tonight. that is what happens if you are caught having sex with a 17-year-old male student in a cemetery. lehigh valley correspondent, walter perez has the details. >> 49-year-old kelly inger charged today. after she was arrested police determine that she met the vehicle tim while working as a substitute teacher at easton high school. >> it started a year to a year and a half ago and the juvenile

victim was a student once of hers. >> it may be hard to believe but the police randomly patrol the cemetery because it's not the first time people come here to be interests mate. easton cemetery is beautiful but is also sacred ground. >> folks have loved ones here that mean a lot to them. and to think that people will come in to these places just because they are quiet and out of the way and desecrate the gravesite. >> the police report says she admitted to having sex with the victim several times since last fall. she is charged and released on $50,000 bail. we spoke with local parents and grandparents that say stories like these are more common these days but still hard to believe. >> they need to go to a

psychiatrist. >> horrible for a school teacher, to do something like that. >> we are told she is suspended indefinitely as a substitute teacher. a referendum for brandywine school district is up for vote today. a 28 cents increase for $100,000 assessed value. it could keep the current programs and plan for the future needs of the students. the 28 cent increase means $206 in taxes per year and polls are open until 8:00 tonight. officials will vote on a new policy that will allow alcohol on the boardwalk. the law would let people 21 years or older walk on the boardwalk with open containers of alcohol.

if it passes a trial period would be held over the summer and it's meant to encourage pedestrian traffic and shopping at local stores in this cash strapped city. >> we'll hear from philadelphia's fire commissioner as he attends his first event at his new official post. and the weather is gradually moving out but i'm tracking more rain on the way. >> those stories and more when "action news" continues tonight.

pat toomey started his career as an investment banker. then, a wall street wheeler-dealer overseeing stock trades in new york, london and tokyo. next, toomey moved to hong kong to work with wealthy chinese investors. in the senate, it's no surprise toomey's been siding with wall street. voting to allow banks to continue making the risky investments that wrecked our economy. afscme people is responsible for the content of this ad.

a group of cyclists taking part in the ems nation ale bike ride. they stopped at the hall to remember emergency responders who died in the line of duty. they begin their journey on boston saturday and finish in virginia on friday. the new fire commissioner is officially on the job. being sworn in yesterday. vernon odom followed adam teal through his first full day. >> as many of you know this is my second day as the fire commissioner for this great city of philadelphia. >> adam teal was sworn in for this town of 1.5 million coming from virginia, coming from a small town from the big city. we would prefer someone that comes through the ranks here, but we'll see how he does.

this was teal's first public appearance as commissioner. ems workers with their expertise are major players in this town. >> we are called to care nearly 700 times per day. >> the goal of the fire department is to encourage the public to think of alternatives to calling 911 when it comes to none emergency issues. >> we really don't want people to hesitate, if you think you are having a medical emergency or see an emergency call 911. >> teal is clearly up to speed on issues related to the hiring of minorities. >> i would say any organization to be successful must be diverse and inclusive and i mean that in all respects. >> he is building his list of top priorities and that will prompt him to visit firehouses across town in the weeks ahead.

a lot to learn even from his perch at the helm. i'm vernon odom, channel 6 "action news."

eagles two quarterbacks onned field first time. >> one has explaining to do about his absence it's last few weeks. there is always dramming surrounding the eagles quarterback position. and bradford didn't help by making his desire to be traded public. and now he must focus on winning together. jaime apody is live at the nova care center. >> reporter: all things considered. sam bradford did okay today. his voice was shaky and he didn't take much accountability. and blamed it on his agent saying it was tom condent that wanted to orchestrate the trade.

it was bradford and carson wentz taking the field together, can you see the difference between the nfl starter and the nfl rookie that is for sure. peterson maintained bradford is their guy and wentz is third string. >> and here is his explanation of why he left the team. >> when i first found out i was frustrated and i felt like i needed some time. i could have stayed here, and continued to work here, and i'm not sure my head would have been here the last few weeks. i talked to sam since he came back and my feelings have not changed. sam is my number one guy. >> i'm not completely naive, i realize if the organization made a move to get up to two at some point it's not going to be my

team. >> what did sam say to you? >> not much, we talked football, no tension or none of that, we are here to compete and help the team get better. >> i asked bradford about the fans because you know how they feel right about now. he understands the fans frustration and will try to win some games to win them back. jaime apody, channel 6 "action news." >> thank you so much. to basketball the long rebuilding process may start to pay dividends tonight and the sixers will learn their lottery fate in new york city and they could end up with two top ten picks. >> i'm not superstitious and i hope i wear a good tie and represent the club well and stand up there being proud and representing our club for sure. the ball will fall one way or it won't.

>> the phillies will try to get back on track tonight and they lost the marlins 5-3. and valesquez had his best start of the season, but his last two were not stellar. pete mccann none says he is not worried. >> i'm looking for him to show an improvement over his last start, we are used to seeing good performances from him and his last two have not been that stellar but i feel good on what he will do the rest of year. major league baseball swings back. odor is suspended eight games for his role in the fight against baptista, he got one game suspension. and the manager got three days suspense after returning to the field after being suspended from the game. >> you get a punch you get a game you give a bunch you get

eight games. national wholesale liquidators celebrated their new $100,000 square foot store on orthodox street with give-aways. they gave away $10,000 in shopping sprees and honored saint martin school, the basketball team by donating basketball equipment.

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so this is very discouraging. the accuweather forecast goes on and on and on. >> friday looks nice. consider that a belated birthday gift for you jim. happy birthday.

ducis is bringing cake later. >> keep it away from me -- i don't need it but thank you. >> you can have some cake. >> a smidgen. >> happy birthday jim. all right moving on to the forecast we do have some lingering rain out there. yet another damp and dreary may. we are beginning to break the rain out or break it up in the northwest suburbs. honey brook it stopped raining and malvern some dry air. and this is all at the shore and pushing to the east as drier air moves in so this batch of rain is moving out but yes it's gloomy, the last 20 days the weather in seattle is nicer than here in philadelphia. we have 12 days of the past 20 socked in with clouds and seattle half of that. rainfall is closing in on 3

inches and seattle less than a .50 inch of rain. we are above normal and -- and you get the ridge of high pressure on the west coast. temperatures on the cool side. 53 in philadelphia, down from the high of 62. the average high for this time of year is 74. and allentown where it's dried out the earliest and seeing peeks of sunshine and millville and cape may 54 and wilmington only 53 degrees. this batch of rain is pushing off but another round of wet weather is over the ohio valley and this is losing its punch as it moves in tomorrow. i don't expect to see a lot of rain but we'll have clouds. a few spotty showers and the steady rain moving off the shore at about 7:00 tonight. 51 for center city and through the day the clouds are hanging

tough. future tracker future tracker 6 are showing plenty of clouds and bumping up into the 60s and for the evening commute you guessed it the clouds are still here and spotty showers are around and nothing more than that. on thursday, high pressure tries to take control and upper level disturbance shows a few clouds bubbling up in the afternoon and 72 degrees, that high pressure is jim's belated birthday party on friday than brings us the pick of the week. the exclusive accuweather seven-day forecast mostly cloudy and a spotty shower or two possible and 64 degrees tomorrow and thursday a mix of sun and clouds and 72. and friday mostly sunny and enjoy it. 76 degrees but then the weather goes downhill for the weekend. saturday rain is likely 65 degrees and lots of clouds and a lingering shower on sunday and 68 degrees, it looks unsettled later in the week and monday and tuesday more clouds and sun and

the possibility of showers. friday is looking beautiful and 76 degrees, one day is better than none at all. >> with my age i just have to get to friday. >> i think you'll make it. congratulations to vernon odom, who is marking a milestone today at "action news." it was 40 years ago today that vernon walked into channel 6 for the first time. this morning our newsroom held a surprise anniversary party for vernon he is one of the most knowledgeable obviously journalist in philadelphia. he has covered it all from city council to presidential politics from the o.j. simpson trial to the release of nelson mandela from prison in south africa, a great journalist and a wonderful colleague and a good friend. vernon odom. abc world news is next on choice. and "action news" continues at 10:00 on phl 17 with brian taff,

sharrie williams, adam joseph and ducis rogers. and then please join us for a special troubleshooters report here at 11:00 on channel 6. nydia han has an extreme case of a home construction project gone all wrong. >> a local family is trying to transform this historic church into a home but they could use some divine invention and this has turned into a money pit after the family claims their original contractor walked off the job. the $300,000 mistake coming up on "action news" at 11:00. for the entire "action news" team i'm jim gardner, we hope you'll join us for "action news" at 11:00.

tonight, the deadly train crash. the mystery revealed. authorities now revealing what happened with the conductor on that amtrak train. crashing at more than 100 miles per hour, killing eight, injuring hundreds. the new demand involving the tsa tonight. after passengers revolt. three-hour waits, missing flights. forced to sleep in airports. and just now, the senator calling for the head of the tsa to resign if it's not fixed before memorial day. donald trump tonight, saying he would talk to north korea's secretive leader in what would be a major shift in u.s. policy. and what melania trump has now revealed about the clintons at their wedding. the 911 call. the horror inside one family's home, after the wrong home is targeted. two teachers terrorized as their children were sleeping. >>