Carolinian struck by dump truck/derails

[musher]

Two fatalities in the truck. Minor injuries aboard the train.

Here's the story.

 

[MrFSS]

Amtrak has released a statement saying the first car of the train is what struck the dump truck, causing the engine and the first car to be derailed. The train is upright, and the engineer is among those injured, the statement said.

Does this make sense? How could the first car of the train hit the truck. Don't you think it is the truck that ran into the first car of the train?

 

[MrFSS]

Here is more info:

Two people are dead, after a heavy-duty dump truck collided with an Amtrak passenger train midday Tuesday in south Raleigh.
Eyewitnesses say they saw the truck, which was described as a dump truck, speeding down Rush Street near Hammond Road toward a rail crossing. Eyewitnesses said the truck tried to cut around the crossing guard arms, which had been lowered while the warning lights were flashing.

The train, the Carolinian 80 from Charlotte, was unable to stop and hit the

truck, spinning it off the tracks and back into Rush Street.

The driver of the truck and passenger were killed by the impact, and the

train's conductor had to be extricated from the engine car. The extent of

the conductor's injuries is unknown.

Several cars of the train, which was carrying about 180 passengers and crew, had derailed, including the two front cars.

Four or five people from the train have been transported to area hospitals.

Other passengers had been transported to the RBC Center and other travel arrangements were being made for them.

Those seeking information about their loved ones who may have been on the train should call Amtrak passenger line at (800) 523-9101.

Emergency crews were still on the scene this afternoon. Portions of Rush

Street from Hammond to Sheldon were still closed to traffic.

The Carolinian runs daily from Charlotte to New York City, with stops in

Richmond and Washington, D.C. Its stops in the Triangle area include

Raleigh, Selma and Rocky Mount.

     © Copyright 2005, The News & Observer Publishing Company,

     a subsidiary of The McClatchy Company

 

[Chatter163]

Isn't it more likely that it was the engineer who had to be removed from the engine, rather than the conductor?

Sad story.

 

[bob smith]

Does anyone know when service will resume for # 92. According to the train tracker on the Amtrak site, there is a service disruption, I guess due to the # 80 accident. I am taking 92 tomorrow night to Newark, NJ.

 

[AlanB]

Does anyone know when service will resume for # 92. According to the train tracker on the Amtrak site, there is a service disruption, I guess due to the # 80 accident. I am taking 92 tomorrow night to Newark, NJ.

Well according to the following Amtrak press release, the Star is still running, it's just taking a detour.

WASHINGTON – At approximately 12:35 p.m. today, Amtrak train #80, the northbound Carolinian operating from Charlotte to New York, derailed its engine and four cars east of the Raleigh station after colliding with a dump truck at the Rush Street road crossing. The locomotive engineer and four passengers were reported injured and were taken to a local medical facility for treatment. Injuries aboard the train were minor and non-life-threatening. Local police authorities have stated that two occupants of the truck were fatally injured.
Amtrak has opened a toll-free line for family members seeking information on passengers who might have been aboard the train. The number is 1-800-523-9101. Amtrak customer care personnel are assisting passengers, who were taken to their destinations by alternate transportation.

The Carolinian consists of one engine, one baggage car and six coaches. Preliminary reports indicate 180 passengers and three crew members were on board the train at the time of the accident, in addition to the locomotive engineer.

Both northbound and southbound versions of today’s New York-Miami Silver Star, will detour around Raleigh and operate by way of Fayetteville.