$10k Reward for Railroad Incident

The FBI is now offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for an act of vandalism on the CSX railroad tracks which run through the Cattaraugus Indian Reservation.

Two railroad ties were placed across the tracks sometime before 8:45 Monday morning, about 200 yards from a bridge spanning Cattaraugus Creek. The Amtrak passenger train hit the ties, which flew up and damage its air lines. The train stayed on the tracks and no one was hurt.

Authorities believe the incident may be linked to an ongoing dispute over the sale of mail order cigarettes because signs reading “No Mail – No Rail” were placed near the scene.

The signs have since been removed by order of Seneca Nation President Barry Snyder, who issued a statement that said the Senecas would never condone putting innocent workers and passengers in danger as a result of differences of opinion over the PACT Act.