A semi-truck-Amtrak train crashed killed at least 5 people in northern Nevada this morning and this will screw up cross country train travel from Chicago.
CBS Radio announced that 5 people were killed.
From the Reno Gazette-Journal: 9:30 p.m. update:About a dozen investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board on Saturday will begin digging through the site of Nevada’s deadliest train crash in 20 years, where at least two died and dozens were injured when a semi truck slammed into an Amtrak passenger train carrying more than 200 people.
The truck’s driver and the train’s conductor were killed instantly in the fiery crash, but there might be more fatalities, said Dan Lopez, a Nevada Highway Patrol spokesman. Officials wouldn’t have a final death count until they’ve done a complete search of the passenger cars that caught fire — searches that were still too dangerous late Friday, he said.
“There were hot spots we were concerned about,” Lopez said. “Until we get access into those cars, I can’t tell you anything.”The truck was ripped apart about 11:38 a.m. Friday after it struck the westbound Amtrak California Zephyr —which was headed from Chicago to Emeryville, Calif. — at U.S. 95 in Churchill County, about 70 miles east of Reno. Lopez said the crossing gates at the intersection were working, but said he wasn’t sure if they lights were operating.“That piece, that piece and that piece,” Louis Lyverse with Cal-Nevada Towing said when asked to point out the truck’s cab. “The motor and hood are probably somewhere in the train. We can’t find them.”Chaos ensued, people screamed and rushed out of the cars as two of the passenger cars burst into flames, sending fireballs and black plumes of smoke into the air. Once out of the cars, passengers stood in groups on the side of the tracks, where debris littered the ground — truck axles, electrical wires, filters and twisted, dented pieces of metal. One passenger said the train looked like someone had used a can opener to peel back the top.
http://www.rgj.com/article/20110624/NEWS/110624012/Federal+investigators+on+way+to+scene+of+deadly+Amtrak+train+trash
With this track closed down for some time along with the Empire Builder, which goes from Chicago to the Northern West Coast, train travel will be very difficult in the next few days.
The Empire Builder is shut down between the Twin Cities in Minnesota to Havre, MT.
Video from the scene of the accident via Reuters:
What is strange is that the truck hit about the 4th car in the train, so it's not like the driver, if paying a little bit attention, would have seen the train. This will be interesting to see what the cops and NTSB come up with.
Another interesting thing about this crash is that about a dozen Amish people were on the train, probably making one of the first time the Amish have been in Nevada.
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