At least 3 dead, 50 hurt after Amtrak passenger train derails in Montana


PTI, Sep 26, 2021, 9:31 AM IST

 

At least three people were killed and 50 others were injured after an Amtrak train derailed in Montana on Saturday afternoon, setting off a frantic response by rescuers who scrambled to extricate passengers from cars, authorities said.

Amtrak said that five cars on an Empire Builder train had derailed at roughly 4 pm local time. About 147 passengers and 13 crew members were on board, “with injuries reported,” Amtrak said in a statement.

The Liberty County Sheriff’s Office said that three people were confirmed dead.

Amanda Frickel, the disaster and emergency services coordinator for Hill County, Montana, said in an interview “well over” 50 people had been injured.

Frickel said the train, which was headed west, derailed just outside Joplin, Montana, which is about 200 miles north of Helena.

Frickel said that rescuers from six counties were responding to the scene and that as many as five hospitals were on standby to receive injured passengers. There were also a number of medical helicopters standing by, she said.

“Everybody who is alive has been extricated from the wreck,” Frickel said.

Officials had evacuated survivors to two separate sites and were doing a headcount. Emergency responders planned to put people up in hotels once their medical needs had been seen.

“Every county around is assisting,” said Sheriff Donna Whitt of Toole County, Montana.

Amtrak said in a statement that it was “working with the local authorities to transport injured passengers, and safely evacuate all other passengers.”

Austin Knudsen, Montana’s attorney general, said that Montana Highway Patrol troopers were among those helping with the rescue efforts. “We are praying for the safety of all passengers and crew who were on board,” he said.

While derailments of Amtrak trains are rare, there have been deadly crashes in recent years.

In 2018, three people died after an Amtrak train traveled on the wrong track in South Carolina and slammed into a parked freight train. That same year, a train carrying Republican members of Congress hit a garbage truck in rural Virginia, killing a passenger in the truck.

In 2015, an Amtrak train that had been traveling at more than 100 mph, twice the speed limit, careened off a curve in Philadelphia, killing eight people and injuring more than 200.

Udayavani is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with the latest news.

Top News

Bantwal: Theft at Shree Mahalingeshwar temple

States not empowered to take over all private properties for distribution to serve common good: SC

Chhattisgarh NAN ‘scam’: FIR against 2 retired IAS officers, former AG

Davangere: MLA Basavantappa returns Rs 1.2 lakh left behind at shop

Woman dies after being hit by luxury car driven by ‘drunk’ youth in Karnataka

MLA Bharat Shetty condemns attack on Edneer Math Swamiji’s vehicle in Kerala

‘Idiot’: Former Canadian Sikh minister slams Justin Trudeau over Khalistan issue

Related Articles More

‘Idiot’: Former Canadian Sikh minister slams Justin Trudeau over Khalistan issue

Canadian cop suspended for attending pro-Khalistan protest outside Hindu temple

US going to historically tight presidential election

Expect Canadian government to ensure justice, uphold rule of law: PM Modi

Khalistanis clash with people at Hindu temple in Canada, Trudeau says unacceptable

MUST WATCH

Gho Pooja in Deepavali Festival

Melukote Deepavali

Ganapathi Co-operative Society Ltd

Udayavani Chinnara Banna 2024

Annapoorna Aahar | Food Places In Mysore


Latest Additions

Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy booked for threatening police officer

Bantwal: Theft at Shree Mahalingeshwar temple

Delhi riots case: HC dismisses plea by Khalid Saifi against attempt to murder charge

States not empowered to take over all private properties for distribution to serve common good: SC

Chhattisgarh NAN ‘scam’: FIR against 2 retired IAS officers, former AG

Thanks for visiting Udayavani

You seem to have an Ad Blocker on.
To continue reading, please turn it off or whitelist Udayavani.