OnsceneALERT
Sep 26, 20212 min
CRITICAL INCIDENT NOTIFICATION
RAIL INCIDENT
An Amtrak passenger train derailed near Joplin, Montana, on Saturday, the company announced. There are at least three confirmed fatalities and over 50 injured, according to the Liberty County Sheriff.
"At approximately 4 pm MT, Empire Builder train 7/27 derailed operating near Joplin, MT. There are approximately 146 passengers and 16 crew members onboard, with injuries reported," Amtrak said in a statement.
According to Amtrak, seven of the train's 10 cars derailed. The train also had two locomotives, the company said.
Photos from the scene showed at least one car tipped over on its sides. Carrie Schoeffling, a passenger who was riding in the fourth car, told CBS News that the car she was traveling in derailed, but did not tip over. Schoeffling said that she heard a boom, after which the carriage began "pitching violently side to side" before derailing.
Many of the passengers were taken to nearby Chester High School in Chester, Montana.
"There are a lot of people in the little town with nowhere to go," Schoeffling said.
Amtrak announced that, "As a result of the derailment, Empire Builder trains 7/27 and 8/28 originating on Sat. Sept. 25 are cancelled between Minot, ND (MOT) and Shelby, MT (SBY) Additionally, on Sunday, Sept. 26, westbound Empire Builder train 7 will terminate in Minneapolis, MN (MSP) and eastbound Empire Builder train 8 will originate in Minneapolis, MN (MSP). No substitute transportation is available."
The National Transportation Safety Board will send a team to investigate the derailment, the board announced. NTSB plans to arrive Sunday.
The Empire Builder operates between Chicago and Seattle.
Photo Credit: Kimberly Fossen via AP)
Photo Credit: Kimberly Fossen via AP)
Source Agency (CBS News)
Sourcing Link (CBS News)
Alerting AgencyOnsceneALERT.com
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Incident Number
2-210925-4401
Alert Type
Critical Incident Notification
Incident Type
Rail Incident
Incident Occurred
September 25, 2021
Alert Posted
September 25, 2021
10:22 pm CST
Last Updated
September 25, 2021
10:22 pm CST
Incident Location
Joplin, Montana
END OF ALERT