Live updates: Amtrak train derails in Missouri | CNN

Multiple dead after Amtrak train derails in Missouri

By Elise Hammond and Melissa Macaya, CNN
Updated 8:35 PM EDT, Mon June 27, 2022
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Video shows aftermath of Amtrak train derailment
2:05 • Source: CNN
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What we know so far

  • At least three people were killed and dozens were injured after an Amtrak train derailed Monday in Missouri, an official said.
  • The train was traveling to Chicago and had about 243 passengers onboard when it collided with a dump truck near the city of Mendon, located about 100 miles northeast of Kansas City, according to the passenger rail company.
  • Authorities say preliminary reports indicate the collision happened at an uncontrolled railroad crossing that didn’t have warning lights or motion gates.

Our live coverage has ended. Read more about the crash in the posts below.

Updates

(14)

Transportation Secretary Buttigieg says Federal Railroad Administration staff en route to Amtrak derailment

From CNN's Rashard Rose

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg tweeted Monday evening that Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) staff are en route to the deadly Amtrak train derailment in Missouri to support the investigation.  

Buttigieg tweeted, “Saddened by the tragic loss of life and injuries in the Missouri train derailment today & Northern California collision over the weekend.”

He said he has been kept updated and his team is in touch with Amtrak & relevant authorities.

The FRA is an agency within the US Department of Transportation.

See Buttigieg’s tweet:

NTSB is requesting data recorder and camera footage from Amtrak and investigators will arrive Tuesday morning

From CNN’s Amy Simonson

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will be arriving in Mendon, Missouri, Tuesday morning to begin an investigation into the cause of an Amtrak train that derailed Monday, killing at least three people.

In a news conference on Monday, NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy told reporters that a Go team of 16 investigators will arrive on the scene at 8:30 a.m. CT (9:30 a.m. ET).

Homendy could not comment on the specifics of the investigation but did say that they are requesting speed data on the route as well as data recorder information and camera footage from Amtrak. 

Initial reports indicate that the accident occurred at an uncontrolled crossing that she said had a stop sign and that investigators will be taking a look at that location. 

Homendy said she could not comment on the injuries or fatalities and that information regarding the investigation will be shared at media briefings that will take tomorrow in Chariton County. 

Today's crash is the second deadly collision in 2 days in which an Amtrak train hit a passenger vehicle

From CNN's Stella Chan and Eric Levenson

The train collision in Missouri on Monday was the second in two days in which an Amtrak train hit a passenger vehicle. 

On Sunday, an Amtrak train passing through an intersection without crossing gates in rural Brentwood, California, collided with a passenger vehicle, killing three people and causing major injuries to two others, according to officials.

All five victims were in the vehicle and were attending an event near the train route, said East Contra Costa County Fire Protection District Marshal Steve Aubert. The two people injured, an adult and a child, were airlifted to local hospitals and sustained major injuries, he said.

Aerial video of the scene from CNN affiliate KPIX shows a crumpled silver vehicle at rest near the train tracks. The crash occurred at a crossing with a stop sign on each side of the road but no gate arms that would warn of an oncoming train, the video shows.

Read more about that collision here.

Preliminary reports indicate train struck truck at railroad crossing that was "uncontrolled," official says

From CNN’s Amy Simonson
(Courtesy Ron Goulet)

Cpl. Justin Dunn, with the Missouri State Highway Patrol, said the Chariton County 911 Center received a 911 call of a vehicle struck by a train southwest of Mendon, Missouri.

According to Dunn, preliminary reports indicate that the Amtrak train traveling to Chicago struck a dump truck at a railroad crossing that was “uncontrolled.” An uncontrolled crossing means there were no lights or mechanized arms.

“The train had approximately eight cars including a baggage car. Seven cars have derailed. There are multiple injuries and we can confirm there are three fatalities, two on the train and one in the dump truck,” Dunn said.

Dunn said the number of injuries is unknown at this time and that the injured were transported to area hospitals.

Multiple law enforcement agencies and first responders are assisting.

MSHP Lieutenant Eric Brown said the investigation will continue through the evening hours and into tomorrow, and that the NTSB is aware of the situation.

The train derailment occurred about 100 miles northeast of Kansas City

From CNN's Steve Almasy, David Williams, Amy Simonson and Pete Muntean

Amtrak said the train collided with a truck at a public crossing near the city of Mendon, Missouri at about 12:42 p.m. CT (1:42 p.m. ET).

Mendon is about 100 miles northeast of Kansas City. The train was traveling from Los Angeles to Chicago.

The collision was the second in two days in which an Amtrak train hit a passenger vehicle.

On Sunday, 85 passengers were on board a train in rural California that hit a vehicle. Three people were killed and two people suffered major injuries, according to officials. All of the victims were in the vehicle, the officials added.

Here’s a map showing the location of the train derailment:

At least 3 people dead in Missouri Amtrak crash, state highway patrol says
Cpl. Justin Dunn, Missouri Highway Patrol
Cpl. Justin Dunn, Missouri Highway Patrol
(KMIZ)

Cpl. Justin Dunn, with the Missouri State Highway Patrol, said at least three people were killed following an Amtrak train derailment. Officials say the train hit a dump truck at an “uncontrolled crossing” — that is when there are no lights or electronic devices that warn cars when trains are coming and are common on rural roads.

Dunn said two of the people who died were inside the train and one was inside the dump truck.

He said a total of seven cars derailed, and dozens of other people who were injured were taken to area hospitals. Dunn added that those who were not hurt were also transported away from the crash.

Officials say the investigation is in the preliminary stages and more information will be released as it continues. The Missouri State Highway Patrol says it is still working with Amtrak and the various other area agencies that responded to assist.

CNN’s Amy Simonson contributed reporting to this post.

NTSB launching 14-member team to Amtrak derailment

From CNN’s Pete Muntean

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is launching a 14-member go-team to investigate Monday’s Amtrak derailment near Mendon, Missouri, the agency said in a tweet.

“Chair Jennifer Homendy will serve as spokesperson on scene. Team expected to arrive tomorrow. Check Twitter @ntsb_newsroom for updates,” it continued.

2 Boy Scout troops on derailed train in Missouri helped hurt people after crash, spokesperson says

From CNN's Amanda Musa

Two Boy Scout troops from Appleton, Wisconsin, were on the Amtrak train that derailed in Western Missouri Monday.

Scott Armstrong, director of National Media for Boy Scouts of America, told CNN Monday that a total of 16 scouts and 8 adult leaders were on the train.

Armstrong says the scouts on the train are believed to be between 14 and 17 years old and he confirmed none of them were hurt. 

All 16 Boy Scouts and their adult leaders stayed on the scene of the train derailment to render aid and assist people that were hurt, according to Armstrong.

The two different troops were on their way back from a stay at Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico, Armstrong said.

Armstrong says Boy Scouts of America is now working to get the scouts and their leaders back to Wisconsin. 

SOON: Missouri State Highway Patrol expected to hold news conference on train derailment

From CNN’s Jalen Beckford

The Missouri State Highway Patrol will be having a 6 p.m. ET news conference on the train derailment near Mendon, Missouri, according to a tweet. 

Director Eric McKenzie with Chariton County Ambulance told CNN that there are multiple fatalities and at least 50 people injured in the incident.

Police call Amtrak derailment a "large-scale event"

From CNN’s Amy Simonson
(Courtesy Ron Goulet)

Police say the Amtrak derailment in Missouri’s Chariton County is a “large-scale event” with multiple fatalities and multiple injuries. 

In a phone call with CNN, Cpl. Justin Dunn, a public information and education officer for the Missouri State Highway Patrol Troop B, said that authorities are still trying to ascertain the number of fatalities. 

According to Dunn, the Mendon school is being used as a triage center for passengers who sustained minor injuries.  

Dunn said the train hit a dump truck, causing it to derail.

Multiple law enforcement agencies and first responders from surrounding areas are on scene to assist, according to Dunn. 

Approximately 8 train cars involved in derailment, officials say

From CNN’s Amy Simonson
Passenger Ron Goulet shared an image of what appears to be part of a large truck near the scene of the accident.
Passenger Ron Goulet shared an image of what appears to be part of a large truck near the scene of the accident.
(Courtesy Ron Goulet)

Approximately eight train cars have derailed in an incident involving a dump truck, according to Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP).

MSHP and numerous other agencies have responded to the scene located southwest of Mendon, Missouri, in Chariton County, according to a tweet posted Monday.

According to the tweet, local and surrounding agencies are on scene providing assistance.

In an updated statement, Amtrak said that Southwest Chief Train 4 derailed 8 cars and two locomotives around 12:42 p.m. CT (1:42 p.m. ET).

Missouri governor asks for prayers for those impacted by Amtrak train derailment

Missouri Gov. Mike Parson said that he is “saddened” to hear about the Amtrak train that derailed, injuring at least 50 people, the company said.

Amtrak said that the train was traveling from Los Angeles to Chicago when it hit a truck that was at a crossing near Mendon, Missouri. Amtrak said there were about 243 people and 12 crew members on board with “early reports of injuries,” it said in a statement.

Parson also said in his tweet, “we ask for Missourians to join us in praying for all those impacted.”

Read the tweet:

Those with questions about friends and family on derailed Amtrak urged to call hotline

Amtrak is urging anyone who has questions about friends and family who were traveling on the train that derailed near Mendon, Missouri, to call their hotline.

That number is: 800-523-9101.

“Our Incident Response Team has been activated, and we are deploying emergency personnel to the scene to help support our passengers, our employees and their families with their needs,” Amtrak said on its website.

Director Eric McKenzie with Chariton County Ambulance Service told CNN in a phone call that there are multiple fatalities and at least 50 injuries.

"Everything started to go in slow motion": Passenger describes Amtrak train derailment in Missouri

From CNN’s Amanda Musa
(KMBC)

Approximately 243 passengers were on board an Amtrak train Monday when it derailed in Western Missouri.

The train was traveling from Los Angeles to Chicago when it apparently struck a dump truck at a public crossing.

One passenger, Robert Nightingale, told CNN Newsroom that he was trying to take a nap when the train derailed and landed on its side.

After the train came to a halt, Nightingale told CNN’s Alisyn Camerota that he and other passengers climbed out of the train and onto the roof.

“I got myself together. Grabbed my backpack and my computer and opened up my door and climbed into the hallway and then climbed up into the room that was next to me, which was now above me. And then I saw an opening and a family getting out. And then I got out and then I sat on the roof,” he said.

When asked if he knew if anyone was killed, Nightingale told CNN, “I don’t know. Except for the gentleman that was driving the cement truck or whatever… his wife came running up to the scene. She wanted to see him, and they said ‘no,’ and that was that.”

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