Multiple deaths after Amtrak train derails in Missouri

At least three people are dead and as many as 50 injured after an Amtrak train derailed in rural Missouri Monday afternoon after striking a dump truck at a public rail crossing.

According to Amtrak, there were 243 passengers and 12 crew members on board the Southwest Chief Train 4 when eight cars and two locomotives derailed near Mendon, Mo., about 100 miles northeast of Kansas City. The Missouri State Highway Patrol and Chariton County Ambulance Service both reported the three fatalities, while the exact number of injured is still unknown. The train was traveling from Los Angeles to Chicago.

Passengers were bused to a nearby high school and medevac helicopters were requested after emergency responders worked to extricate those trapped inside. Three passengers were taken from the scene to University Hospital in Columbia, Mo., a hospital spokesman told the Associated Press. He did not have information on their conditions.

"We are saddened to hear of the Amtrak train derailment in Chariton County this afternoon," Missouri Gov. Mike Parson wrote on Twitter. "We ask Missourians to join us in praying for all those impacted."

One passenger posted photos to Twitter showing passengers climbing out of tipped-over train cars and what appeared to be the remnants of the truck lying alongside the tracks.

The same passenger also posted a video from inside the train following the crash.

Another passenger posted live video to Facebook showing passengers on top of the cars moments after the derailment.

The incident comes a day after an Amtrak train with 85 people on board collided with a vehicle at a private crossing in Brentwood, Calif., killing three people and leaving two others seriously injured. No train passengers were injured in Sunday’s collision.

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