Video: Amtrak Cross-Country Train Derails in Montana, Leaves Dozens Injured & At Least 3 Dead
00:38 GMT 26.09.2021 (Updated: 03:40 GMT 26.09.2021)
Subscribe
The train has been reportedly identified as Amtrak's Empire Builder, which runs between Chicago, Illinois, and the Pacific Northwest region of the US, including Seattle, Washington and Portland, Oregon.
Emergency personnel arrived at a north-central Montana scene on Saturday, following reports that an Amtrak train was knocked off the tracks around 4:00 p.m., local time, while traveling between the state's Havre and Shelby stops, according to Washington state outlet KXLY.
Passengers have published footage from the derailment site, showing crowds of travelers standing near luggage as they wait for further instruction.
— Jacob Cordeiro🌹 (@jacob_cordeiro) September 26, 2021
Amanda Frickel, the disaster and emergency services coordinator for Hill County, Montana, told the New York Times that "well over" 50 people had been injured, and that more than one person had died.
Although Frickel steered clear of giving an exact death toll, the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office has stated that at least three individuals died as a result of the derailment.
The county official further noted that first responders from six local counties were responding to the scene, and that several hospitals were ready to accept passengers.
An @Amtrak train derailed about 55 miles west of Havre, Montana today. This is the Empire Builder train that goes to Seattle. According to my dad there is at least one fatality. 3 cars on their side, 2 of them detached. #amtrak #havre #train pic.twitter.com/GHuEVMUsyO
— McLovin (@McLovin1019) September 26, 2021
A statement released by Amtrak indicates that the train consisted of two locomotives and 10 cars, of which seven of the cars derailed.
An eyewitness earlier told KSEN radio that at least four cars were turned on their side during the derailment, which is said to have occurred around a mile from the small Montana town of Joplin.
@cnn pic.twitter.com/nmEh6jYj4C
— Jacob Cordeiro🌹 (@jacob_cordeiro) September 25, 2021
Prior to the incident, the train was traveling west, toward Seattle. An Amtrak spokesperson has indicated that the train had some 146 passengers and 136 crew members onboard.
