WASHINGTON: Two Amtrak employees were killed and more than 100 othersinjured Sunday when a passenger train carrying 147 people hit a freighttrain in the US state of South Carolina, authorities said.
Amtrak train 91 — traveling between New York and Miami — derailed inCayce, outside the state capital Columbia, when it collided with the CSXfreight train at around 2:30 am (0730 GMT).
It was the third deadly incident involving an Amtrak train since December,raising questions about the safety of the national railway service.
Amtrak said in a statement that the lead engine derailed along with somepassenger cars. Eight crew members and 139 passengers were on board.
A total of 116 people were taken to area hospitals for treatment, many with”minor injuries,” Governor Henry McMaster told reporters. US media reportedinjuries ranged from cuts and bruises to broken bones.
He identified the dead as Amtrak personnel and said the freight train,which was stationary, appeared to be empty.
“It appears the Amtrak train was on the wrong track,” the governor said.
“We need a conversation around the country” about rail safety, he added,after visiting passengers at a shelter set up by the local Red Cross in aschool.
“As you and your loved ones gather at church and other houses of worshiptoday, we ask that you pray for those affected and the families of thosewho have passed away,” he said on Twitter.
– Nobody was panicking -US President Donald Trump, who was in Florida for the weekend, was briefedand was receiving updates, a White House spokeswoman said.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone that has been affected by thisincident,” deputy press secretary Lindsay Walters said.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said it was investigatingthe incident. CSX said its personnel were on site to assist law enforcement.
The Lexington County Sheriff’s Department confirmed all passengers had beenevacuated.
Officials added that although 5,000 gallons of fuel spilled following thecrash, the leak was contained and there was no danger to the public.
“The incident is very near the state farmers’ market and other residentialareas but right now, everyone is safe,” said Derrec Becker, publicinformation officer at the South Carolina Emergency Management Division.
Passenger Derek Pettaway told CNN he was traveling south from Philadelphiato Orlando in a sleeper cabin when he was awoken by the impact of the crash.
“Nobody was panicking,” he said. “I’m pretty sure everybody was asleep andI think people were in shock.”
Pettaway added Amtrak staff had evacuated passengers in a “really calmfashion.”
– Questions over safety -The Lexington County Sheriff later said four buses had been made availableto take Amtrak passengers to their final destinations.
“My prayers are with the families of those killed in the train crash inLexington County this morning, and hoping for the best for all thoseinjured. South Carolina is with you all!” tweeted Tim Scott, one of thestate’s two US senators.
Congressman Joe Wilson called the incident “heartbreaking.”
It comes just days after an Amtrak train carrying several dozen Republicanlawmakers including House Speaker Paul Ryan hit a garbage truck inVirginia, killing one person and causing six others, including acongressman, to need hospital treatment.
In December, three people were killed when an Amtrak passenger trainderailed in Washington state near the city of Tacoma, sending cars flyingoff a bridge and onto a busy interstate highway.
Preliminary information obtained from an event data recorder in the rearlocomotive showed that train, which was traveling on a new route for thefirst time, was speeding at 80 miles (128 kilometers) per hour in a 30 mphzone. – AFP