Four people have already died as a result of yesterday’s fatal Missouri Amtrak crash, and authorities have verified that 150 people were hospitalized with injuries.
According to KSHB, two of the fatalities were a woman from Olathe, Kansas’s mother and aunt.
Two of the victims died in the collision, and the third passed away later at a local hospital. Three of the victims were passengers.
The operator of the dump truck that the railway struck today was the fourth.
The locomotive of a train traveling at roughly 90 mph impacted the at a railroad crossing in Mendon, Missouri, causing eight train cars to derrail and flip on their sides.
According to a statement from the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the hospitalized individuals had “injuries that vary from minor to serious in nature.”
Twelve crew members and about 275 passengers, according to Amtrak officials, were riding the train.
The victims’ identities have not been made public.
The dump truck, which was obstructing the public crossing over the tracks, was struck by the train as it was moving from Los Angeles to Chicago.
Eight of the train’s cars fell over into the ground along with one of the locomotives, which derailed and was flung sideways off the tracks.
Photos of the collision revealed that the dump truck was totally damaged.
Yesterday evening, State Highway Patrol Lt. Eric Brown stated that the incident was still the subject of a “active and ongoing investigation.”
According to investigators, the crash happened at an uncontrolled gravel road crossing on Porch Prairie Avenue that lacked any gates or electronic warning systems.
Locals claimed that the railroad was aware of the crossing’s long-standing reputation as being incredibly unsafe but took no action to address it.
In Mendon, Missouri, where the intersection at Porche Prairie Avenue had been planned for improvements for four months prior to the train’s collision with the dump truck, Mike Spencer, 64, claimed he had long been a proponent for safety changes at crossings.
The Kansas City Star quoted Spencer as saying, “They knew it was risky.” That was essentially a no-brainer,
This was going to happen, as I had foretold. I had no doubt that this would occur. Just a matter of time, really.
Farmers use the crossing frequently to access their fields, so Spencer claimed he has been pressing MODOT and Amtrak to improve it for years. He has suggested widening the road, installing signal lights, or even just clearing some of the bushes that are obstructing the view.
Regarding his most recent attempts to get improvements for the crossing, Spencer told the Star that “In November, nothing was done.” When I contacted them, they advised me not to exert any pressure. They are engaged in it.
He continued, “They never even offered to trim back the brush for us so we could at least see.” If anything could have been done, “I would have done something to rectify it personally.”
The Porche Prairie Road intersection was slated to receive the installation of lights and gates, as well as road improvements, according to the MODOT’s 2022 State Freight and Pail Plan, which was released in February. The estimated price of the work was $400,000.
Spencer remarked, “The railroad is responsible for this.” They were aware that there was a problem. It seems as though they were worried but not worried enough to take action.
Daryl Jacobs, a fellow farmer, echoed Spencer’s complaints, stating that the crossing had always been “very dangerous” during his entire time living in the area.
Jacobs, 62, told the Star, “It needs arms on it or signals.” It’s awfully steep, I say. That truck reportedly stalled out while ascending it today. I heard what you said.
Additionally, all of the annoying brush near the train tracks needs to be taken away.
The panic that ensued as the train left the tracks, sending survivors scrambling out of the train’s windows that faced the sky, has been described by survivors.
Rob Nightingale claimed that while the train swayed back and forth, he was drifting off in his sleeper cabin.
It seemed to be moving slowly. I suddenly felt it tip in my direction after that. Nightingale remarked, “I saw the ground heading toward my window, along with all the debris and dust.
Then there was total silence as it sat on its side. I sat there and remained silent. Then I overheard a young girl sobbing next door.
When their children called them to tell them that their train had derailed, some parents shared the terrifying experiences they had on social media.
Rachael Piche, a Kansas resident, posted on Facebook, “Getting a panicked FaceTime call when your child is standing on top of a derailed train is something I can’t even begin to describe.” Jordan, her 17-year-old, was coming home from a leadership summit in Chicago.
She is in good physical condition, although she does have a concussion and a torn shoulder muscle.
Dennis Eamon Young said on Facebook that his daughter Eireann attempted to call him to let him know she had been in the accident but was unable to do so due to a low battery. Young was left alone with the TV to watch the news reports. The accident left his daughter startled but largely unharmed.
She was genuinely alright, Young writes, other from having a stiff neck and being shaken up.
The train shook and then toppled on its side while passenger Dian Couture and her husband were in the dining car at the time.
We were standing on the right-side windows of the automobile when the folks on our left-hand side “flew over and smacked us,” Couture told WDAF-TV.
“Two individuals at the front came up, piled a lot of stuff, burst out the window and practically pulled us out by our hands,” the witness recalled.
Eli Skrypczak, a 15-year-old Boy Scout, managed to escape the carnage, find the truck driver, and comfort him as he lay dying.
Dan Skrypczak, Eli’s father, told the New York Post that his son was “quite unhappy” and wished he could have taken further action.
Just trying to convey to him that if the truck driver had been hit by a fast train, not much could have been done to help him. He exerted every effort and acted morally. He offered solace and assistance.