The driver was waved across against the signals by his police escort that is if the police say go he goes, while UP was found to have set the crossing warning system 5 seconds less than required and held accountable by technicality

The police are at fault for not stopping the parade from crossing. Also things like no permit was issued UP was never informed the event would cross grade crossings etc I imagine had the midland police notified UP that a 2 float parade would be crossing within the hrs of 10 am till 4 pm then UP would have issued a temporary low speed warning for that section well below the normal 70 mph?

I did see reference in some articles that the midland district attorny's office was under investigation and other things probably the police. It's still going on the lawsuit as far as I can tell

Absolutely totally correct as usual - apologies I misread your comment to mean you hadn't fully read all the stuff.

I guess if one of us were the driver, hired along with your companies truck, a resident of some hick town and small close knit community and REFUSED to obey the orders of the local police at such an event?

1. You probably would lose your job.
2. Get arrested on trumped up charge of failing to obey a police direction .
3. Be run out of town.

Cries of you could have made it, you delayed the team etc etc

Hindsight is great but it's always after the event and often doesn't take into account the human element inc peer group pressure and group dynamics
it's a tragedy that should not have happened.