Pa. Man Charged in Signal Tampering Incident

A Pennsylvania man has been charged with alleged tampering with grade crossing signal equipment on the Reading & Northern Railroad.

The suspect, Ryan M. Boria, 34, of Tilden Township, was identified by the fast food uniform that he was wearing at the time of the incident.

Several of his co-workers at a Wendy’s restaurant were able to recognize Boria after viewing video footage of him made by a security camera and posted on Facebook by police.

After obtaining a search warrant, police found in Boria’s home a shunt that could short-circuit the crossing signal.

Railroad officials said that could have created the possibility of a collision between vehicles and freight or passenger trains. The crossing in question is on a route used by R&N excursion trains.

Authorities said Boria was on his way to work at the restaurant when the alleged tampering occurred.

He faces felony counts of risking a catastrophe and criminal mischief, along with misdemeanor counts of reckless endangerment; disrupting, delaying, or preventing operation of a train; and disorderly conduct.

Tags: criminal charges, Reading & Northern, signal tampering