Derailed train kills two and injures 30 people
TWO people have been killed and more than 30 injured after an Amtrak train struck a piece of construction equipment and derailed just south of Philadelphia.
Amtrak said Train 89 hit a backhoe that was on the track in Chester, about 15 miles from Philadelphia, at about 8am local time yesterday.
The lead engine of the train derailed. The train was carrying more than 300 passengers and seven crew members and was heading from New York to Savannah, Georgia.
Chester fire commissioner Travis Thomas said two people were killed. They were not passengers on the train.
More than 30 people were taken to hospital with non-lifethreatening injuries.
Service on the Northeast Corridor was suspended between Wilmington and Philadelphia, but service to New York remained operational.
The National Transportation Safety Board will be investigating.
Officials with the Federal Railroad Administration were also sent to the scene.
Ari Ne’eman, a disability rights activist heading to Washington after speaking at an event i n New York, said he was in the second car at the time of the crash.
“The car started shaking wildly, there was a smell of smoke, it looked like there was a small fire and then the window across from us blew out,” said Mr Ne’eman.
Some of the passengers started to get off after the train stopped, but the conductor quickly stopped them.