312-372-1227 Amtrak train headed to Chicago struck by truck leaving 4 dead, more than 150 injured
By: Noah Dolan
MENDON, Mo. (June 29, 2022) – An Amtrak crash on Monday morning left four people dead and more than 150 injured when the train collided with a dump truck and derailed in rural Missouri.
The train was heading to Chicago from Los Angeles with 275 people on board, when it struck a dump truck that was blocking a public crossing. The collision derailed eight train cars and broke apart the dump truck.
Witnesses say eight train cars tipped over, throwing passengers across the train, injuring many in the process. The strong smell of leaking fuel caused passengers to panic about the possibility of an explosion.
The driver of the dump truck and three train passengers were killed in the incident.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is leading the investigation into the incident. The NTSB has downloaded recorder information to determine the speed of the train, when the horn was blown and if the emergency brake was deployed.
There are no lights or arms at the crossing, which has prompted concern from local leaders over the past three years. Additionally, the road to the tracks is on a steep incline, making it difficult for drivers to see oncoming trains. According to a report by the Missouri Department of Transportation, the state of Missouri was aware that the site needed improvements as far back as 2019, but did not immediately pursue the issue.
Residents reportedly voiced concerns about the crossing at a 2019 Chariton County Commission Meeting and were told to contact the Missouri Department of Transportation’s Railroad Safety division. In January 2022, the Missouri Department of Transportation submitted a proposal to install lights, gates, and road improvements. The plan was approved, but will take four years to complete due to funding obstacles.
Monday’s crash was the second Amtrak collision in two days. The crash happened just one day after an Amtrak train in California collided with a car, killing three people.
Amtrak runs more than 300 trains daily carrying more than 85,000 passengers and operates throughout the United States.
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