YOUNGSTOWN - An inmate who was sitting in a prison cell nearly 20 miles from East Palestine when a Norfolk Southern train hauling toxic chemicals went off the tracks has been added as a plaintiff in a lawsuit consolidated from 31 other cases.

U.S. District Court Judge Benita Pearson on Tuesday ordered that a lawsuit filed by 30-year-old Josh Turner last week be included in the case against Norfolk Southern.

Turner claims that the spillage of vinyl chloride in the February 3rd derailment and the subsequent decision for a controlled burn sent toxic chemicals into the environment.

Turner, who is serving a four-year sentence for robbery and felonious assault at the Ohio Penitentiary on Coitsville-Hubbard Road in Youngstown, alleges in the partially hand-written complaint that he has been suffering from rashes, headaches, chest pain, wheezing, and breathing problems which he attributes to impact of vinyl chloride.

Claiming that prison officials have made no effort to provide inmates with bottled water, Turner alleges that his constitutional rights are being violated.

Last month Judge Pearson ordered a consolidation of 31 other class action suits filed by lawyers on behalf of residents, workers, and businesses that claim they suffered injury or damage as a result of the derailment and its aftermath.