Three people have been killed and dozens injured after an Amtrak train derailed Monday in the US state of Missouri.
Amtrak said the incident happened after the train collided with a dump truck at 12:42 a.m. local time at a public crossing near the city of Mendon.
The train was en route to Chicago from Los Angeles, with approximately 275 passengers and 12 crew on board, when the derailment occurred.
Officers later confirmed that the driver and two passengers were killed.
In a statement, Amtrak said it was “deeply saddened” by the news. “There are also several reported injuries among the passengers and crew traveling on the train,” the company said in a statement.
“Amtrak is working with local authorities to ensure that the injured receive medical care and that all others receive services and transportation.”
Cpl Justin Dunn, of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, told reporters that two of the dead were on board the train, while the third was in a dump truck that hit the train.
I estimated that seven wagons of the train had derailed.
Robert Nightingale told CNN he was taking a nap when he heard disturbance from the collision.
“It all happened in slow motion. It started rocking and rocking, then flickering, and then all of a sudden it was all this dust coming through my window,” Mr. Nightingale said.
The incident comes just a day after an Amtrak collision in rural California on Sunday that also killed three people.
The train collided with a passenger vehicle near Brentwood, about 60 miles east of San Francisco, killing three people and seriously injuring two others, officials said.
US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a statement: “Saddened by the tragic loss of life and injuries in the Missouri train derailment today and the collision in Northern California over the weekend.
“I have been kept informed and my team is in contact with Amtrak and relevant authorities.”