Amtrak derailment Missouri: 3 killed, over 40 hurt near Mendon, MO; WI Boy Scouts jumped into action

Police mentioned they first acquired calls concerning the Southwest Chief prepare, touring from Los Angeles to Chicago with stops in between, putting the truck at about 12:43 p.m. in a rural space southwest of Mendon.

First responders arrived simply after 1 p.m., police mentioned. The incident occurred at an “uncontrolled crossing” on a gravel highway with no lights or digital controls, in keeping with legislation enforcement.

WATCH: Missouri State Freeway Patrol replace on Amtrak derailment

Amtrak officers mentioned the truck was obstructing a public crossing, although police didn’t say if the truck was caught on the tracks.

Because of the influence, seven of the prepare’s eight automobiles derailed, police mentioned.

“Abruptly, the automobile that we have been on was over, and everybody was flying all over the place,” mentioned Jason Drinkard, a trainer who was on the prepare with college students.

Two of the individuals killed have been on the prepare, whereas the third was within the dump truck, police mentioned. It was not instantly identified if the fatalities on the prepare have been crew or passengers.

Police mentioned over 270 passengers and about 14 crew members have been on the prepare on the time of the crash.

“There was mud and grime all over the place. I used to be on the aspect of the prepare that hit the bottom first, so everybody fell on prime of us,” mentioned Loralai Kruid, a pupil on the prepare.

Over 40 individuals needed to be hospitalized after the derailment.

“Seats have been coming aside. Luggage have been going all over the place. After which, after it stopped, you might odor the fumes and so individuals began panicking, considering it was going to catch fireplace, so we tried to get out as fast as attainable,” Drinkard mentioned.

Sixteen Boy Scouts from Wisconsin, who have been touring on the prepare, additionally jumped into motion, serving to administer first assist to victims.

“We had one younger man who supplied assist to the dump truck driver till he expired. They have been simply serving to immobilize individuals on backboards and getting them up safely. Anyone who was complaining of any kind of ache, serving to load them into ambulances,” mentioned Dan Skrypczak, a mother or father of one of many Boy Scouts.

Hedrick Medical Middle mentioned they’ve accepted 4 sufferers. They didn’t supply data on these sufferers’ circumstances.

College Hospital in Columbia, Missouri confirmed they acquired three sufferers from the derailment, however didn’t supply any additional particulars.

Video reveals a determined scene, with a number of derailed prepare automobiles on their sides. Passengers sat or stood atop these automobiles after apparently climbing out of home windows.

“Native authorities are at present aiding clients and we now have deployed Amtrak sources to help. Extra particulars will probably be supplied as obtainable,” the corporate mentioned in an announcement.

The prepare was scheduled to reach at Union Station about 6 p.m., and it is unclear what number of passengers aboard had Chicago as their last vacation spot.

Mendon is in Chariton County, about 100 miles northeast of Kansas Metropolis.

Amtrak mentioned anybody with questions on family and friends aboard the prepare ought to name 800-523-9101.

The Nationwide Transportation Security Board is predicted to reach on the crash web site Tuesday morning. The company is looking for the prepare’s occasion file and different data.

This comes someday after an Amtrak prepare collided with a automobile in California, killing three individuals.

ABC Information contributed to this report