At 1:15 a.m. on Wednesday, June 12, Locomotive Engineer Kevin Weaver and Conductor Jimmy Tucker were on the HOFW-11 train traveling from Houston to Fort Worth. As they passed through the Pinehurst community in Montgomery County, someone threw a beer bottle through the open window of the locomotive cab.
The bottle struck Engineer Weaver in the face, knocking him unconscious for about 15 minutes. He also suffered cuts above the eye requiring stitches. He was hospitalized and released Thursday June 16.
The bottle was thrown with such force that after it struck Weaver, it continued in its path and shattered the window behind him. The conductor was able to stop the train.
Union Pacific has posted a $1000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of whoever threw the bottle. The company says it will pursue aggravated assault charges.
Mr. Weaver is a veteran railroad employee with 21 years service.
Special Agent Ted Hillis of Spring said, "We have developed a couple of suspects as a result of posting the reward and are currently working with the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office to locate them.
Bottle Thrower
Suspect Arrested
June 21 -- Railroaders everywhere will be interested to know that the 17-year old suspected of throwing the beer bottle that injured Engineer Kevin Weaver has been arrested and booked. Bail has been set at $50,000.
UP Special Agent Ted Hillis and a Montgomery County Deputy Sheriff did a lot of door-to-door investigation to solve the case.
Union Pacific had posted a $1000 reward for the information leading to the suspect's arrest and conviction, but the person who turned the suspect in to authorities refused the reward saying they were "outraged by the incident."
Hillis said the man was probably the same one Weaver first saw standing in the middle of the track. Weaver at first thought was the man trying to commit suicide, but he jumped aside at the last minute and threw the bottle. It struck Weaver above the right eye, splitting open his skin and rendering him unconscious.
Kevin says, "I felt something hit my head and it was like an explosion. My eye still throbs constantly, almost like a toothache. I have to take pain killer to be able to sleep. Right now, my worst enemy is bright sunlight. I'm staying inside like a recluse."
"If I hadn't been wearing safety glasses, I probably would have lost my eye," Kevin adds.
Kevin is progressing slowly and still has pain in his right eye, dizzy spells and is pretty sore. I hope he recovers quickly and totally. We all miss him.