A California man has filed a negligence lawsuit against a Las Vegas casino operator and a national railroad company, claiming that a poorly maintained fence allowed him to reach train tracks where he suffered a life-altering accident.
The Hole in the Fence
The complaint, filed on December 26 in Clark County civil court by Ryan Pettway, named Boyd Gaming Corp., along with Union Pacific Railroad Corp.
Pettway claims that Boyd, responsible for operating the Main Street Station hotel and casino in downtown Las Vegas, and the railroad company didn’t do what was necessary to fix the fence behind the gambling venue, despite knowing the respective pathway was used by many for crossing.
According to the lawsuit, the easy access through the unrepaired fence allowed the Californian, who was joining others through the gap, to step onto the rail on December 27, 2023, where he was hit by a freight train.
The man suffered catastrophic injuries, and doctors were forced to cut off his right leg and left foot ultimately. The medical ordeal, claims the lawsuit, is far from over, as more major surgeries are underway, along with long-term care.
In his complaint, Pettway argues that both Boyd Gaming and Union Pacific should have been aware of the poor condition of the fence, pointing to what he calls clear evidence of foot traffic beyond the barrier, including signs of homeless encampments on the other side.
These conditions, says the filing, should have been enough to alert the companies to the risks and prompt them to initiate immediate repairs.
Since this did not happen, the property remained unsafe, contributing to the accident and the severe injuries that followed.
“Always Expect a Train”
Pettway is looking to obtain more than $75,000 in damages, including compensation for past and future medical costs, punitive damages, and other losses tied to the incident and its long-term impact on his life.
“The safety of the communities in which we operate is a top priority for Union Pacific Railroad,” a spokesperson for the railroad company told The Independent.
“We remind the public that for their safety and others to only use designated railroad crossings to cross railroad tracks and never walk on or near the tracks. Do not ever try to climb on or through trains and always expect a train: trains can come from either direction at any time,” the statement concluded.
In April 2025, a woman from California won a similar negligence lawsuit against an MGM Resorts International property on the Strip and received $15 million for her injuries.