NTSB: Signals activated before float on tracks

MIDLAND, Texas (AP) - Federal investigators say the warning signals at a railroad crossing in West Texas were activated before a parade float crossed the tracks in an accident that killed military veterans.

National Transportation Safety Board member Mark Rosekind made that announcement at a news conference Saturday. He said the signals had been activated seven seconds before the float crossed the tracks.

Four veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan were killed Thursday when a freight train slammed into the parade float in Midland.

Sixteen people were injured. Rosekind said the NTSB reconstructed the accident using video cameras from the train and a sheriff's vehicle. He said the train started sounding its horn nine seconds before it hit the float.

The train engineer also used the emergency brake five second before the crash.