Eight cars on Amtrak Southwest Chief train 4 derailed overnight on Sunday, approximately 20 miles west of Dodge City, Kansas.
Thirty-two passengers were transported to local hospitals for non-life-threatening injuries.
The NTSB and the Federal Rail Administration are investigating the incident, and investigators are looking at the possibility that an agriculture truck caused damage to one of the rails causing the derailment. The train consisted of two locomotives and 10 cars.
On Tuesday, KWCH12 reported that BNSF who owns the track which was damaged replaced 1000 feet, and is in the process of testing it. Freight service on the line is expected to resume within the day.
Frontal view of the Agricultural vehicle that damaged the rails involved in the Kansas Amtrak derailment. pic.twitter.com/niXGn7Lmgi
— NTSB (@NTSB) March 15, 2016
NTSB is sending a team to investigate the Amtrak train derailment
in Kansas. More information will follow when the team arrives in Kansas.— NTSB (@NTSB) March 14, 2016
Additional updates on derailment of the Southwest Chief train 4: https://t.co/TQ7LUjZkRk.
— Amtrak (@Amtrak) March 14, 2016
The Associated Press reported Monday that the train’s engineer noticed a bend in the rail and depressed the emergency stop button before the derailment occurred.
BREAKING: Official: Engineer noticed bend in rail, hit emergency brakes before Kansas derailment.
— The Associated Press (@AP) March 14, 2016
(Image: j_jaded/Twitter)
