RailNews

NTSB Launches Investigation into Deadly Amtrak Wreck

AmtrakBy Justin Franz

MENDON, Mo. — The National Transportation Safety Board has launched an investigation into Monday’s deadly Amtrak wreck in Missouri that killed three people. 

On Monday afternoon, the eastbound Southwest Chief hit a truck at a rural crossing near Mendon, about 100 miles northeast of Kansas City. The collision resulted in two locomotives and eight cars derailing with many of the cars falling on their sides. The driver of the truck and two passengers were among those killed. Dozens of others were injured. 

The NTSB announced late Monday that it was sending a 14-person “go team” to the site. Investigators were expected to arrive on Tuesday morning. 

Monday’s incident was the second deadly crossing accident involving an Amtrak train in just as many days. On Sunday, three people were killed when an Amtrak train struck a vehicle in California. No passengers were injured in that incident. 

The Kansas City Star reports that people who live by the crossing where Monday’s incident occurred have long urged the railroad to make it safer by installing gates or cutting brush back. The crossing was slated for some improvements, but that had not happened yet. 

This article was posted on: June 28, 2022