At least three people were killed Monday after an Amtrak train crashed into a dump truck and derailed in Missouri, officials said. It is still unclear how many were injured, although at least two hospitals said they had received patients.
Officials said Southwest Chief Train 4, which was carrying 275 passengers and 12 crew members from Los Angeles to Chicago, hit a truck near Mendon, Missouri, at approximately 12:43 local time. A Missouri State Road Patrol official said the intersection was “uncontrolled” and had no lights or walkways, which is common in more rural areas.
Seven of the eight wagons on the train derailed, Missouri State Highway Patrol Corporal Justin Dunn told a news conference.
Two of the victims were on the train and the other on the truck, Dunn said. It is unclear whether the victims of the train were passengers or crew members. All passengers have been transported from the scene, Dunn said.
The National Transportation Safety Board said it is sending a 16-member team to investigate the incident.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg tweeted that he is “saddened by the tragic loss of life and injuries,” adding that his team is working with Amtrak and authorities to support it.
Amtrak said Monday night it was “deeply saddened” to learn of the deaths, adding that it is cooperating with local authorities.
A photo of the derailed Amtrak train in Missouri. Ron Goulet
A train passenger, Ron Goulet, told CBS News he was watching traffic on a side road from the train window when he felt the impact.
“The car pulled forward and in no time, in that slow motion situation, the car was turning sideways,” Goulet said. “People were flying in all directions. Luggage. People. It was terrible.”
Goulet said he got off the train through some windows pointing to the sky after the car wanted to.
“It was just a surreal situation,” he said.
Two Boy Scouts of America troops with a total of 16 scouts and eight adults were on the train returning from a shelter in New Mexico, according to a spokesman for the organization. All of them suffered minor injuries and two leaders were taken to hospitals with injuries that did not endanger their lives, the spokesman said.
A 15-year-old scout found the driver of the dump truck that had been hit and provided assistance until the driver died, the spokesman said.
Mendon is located about two hours northeast of Kansas City. The University of Missouri Health Care, a hospital in Columbia, Missouri, said it is treating 16 derailment patients. University Health in Kansas City, a level 1 trauma center capable of dealing with serious injuries, said it has received a person who was airlifted by helicopter.
The photos and videos appeared to show several cars turned sideways with the passengers sitting on top, and another video appeared to show the passengers consoling each other from inside a dumped train car.
BREAKING 🇺🇲: Images showing the consequences of the train derailment in Missouri, USA
♦ ️A # Amtrak train has derailed after hitting a dump truck near Mendon, downtown Missouri. pic.twitter.com/bstZvdkHxK
– Zaid Ahmd (@realzaidzayn) June 27, 2022
Deputy Sam Graves, who represents Mendon, said he is “following closely” the derailment.
Missouri Gov. Mike Parson said he was “sad” to learn of the derailment, adding that “the Missouri Department of Public Safety, Missouri State Highway Patrol soldiers and other personnel emergency management are responding “.
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