Amtrak derailment: Mother and aunt among four dead as Boy Scouts recall bloody scene in Missouri

The train was on its way to Chicago from Los Angeles when the accident occurred

Train carrying 243 passengers derails near Kansas City, Missouri

A woman’s mother and aunt from Olathe, Missouri, have been identified by family as being among the four people killed when an Amtrak train derailed in Kansas City, Missouri, according to local news outlet KSHB.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol said three passengers died and the driver of a dump truck that collided with the Los Angeles to Chicago passenger train were among the dead, who have not been named.

Investigtors are currently at the scene of the crash in Mendon and the railroad is expected to remain closed for a matter of days following the collision at railroad crossing on Monday afternoon.

Amtrak, which confirmed 275 passengers and 12 crew members were on board the Southwest Chief intercity train, said it is “deeply saddened” to learn about the deaths of the passengers and the truck driver and that is cooperating with investigators.

The incident was the second in two days for Amtrak after three people were killed and two others suffered severe injuries when a train carrying 85 passengers hit a vehicle in rural California.

Key points

• Mother and aunt among dead, family say
• Boy Scout passengers recall seeing bloody scene
• Farmer warned about crossing safety before crash
• Aerial footage shows train tipped on its side

[27 June 2022 21:41 · Graig Graziosi]

Welcome to the Liveblog

Welcome to The Independent’s live coverge of the Amtrak train derailment in Missour.

An Amtrak train carrying 243 people from Los Angeles to Chicago was derailed in Missouri after it struck a dump truck. Some injuries have been reported, but the extent of the injuries is unclear.

[27 June 2022 21:45 · Graig Graziosi]

Video shows passengers recovering inside derailed Amtrak train

A passenger on the Amtrak train that derailed near Kansas City, Missouri after it struck a dump truck shared footage from inside the train, showing other travelers in a state of disarray as they attempt to exit the overturned train.

[27 June 2022 21:47 · Graig Graziosi]

Three people hospitalised following train derailment

Three people have been hospitalised after an Amtrak train derailed near Kansas City, Missouri. The train struck a dump truck and toppled over off the track.

A spokesperson from MU Health Care confirmed that three people have thus far been transported to the hospital after suffering injuries during the derailment.

[27 June 2022 21:53 · Graig Graziosi]

Missouri Governor issues statement on train derailment

Missouri Governor Mike Parson has issued a statement after an Amtrak train derailed near Kansas City. The train was carrying 243 people and multiple injuries have been reported, including at least three people who have been transported to the hospital.

“It’s a terrible situation, I do know that several cars have been derailed. We do believe there could be some fatalities, but again it’s way early on,” Mr Parson said. “It’s very unfortunate any time you have a derailment of a train and multiple cars, it’s not a good day.”

[27 June 2022 22:00 · Graig Graziosi]

Footage shows flipped train that derailed near Kansas City, Missouri

KAKE News shared footage from the site where an Amtrak train derailed after striking a dump truck. The train was traveling between Los Anegeles and Chicago when it hit the truck and toppled off of the rails.

[27 June 2022 22:17 · Io Dodds]

Some fatalities, local media reports

ABC 17 News is now reporting that some people have been killed, citing local highway patrol troopers.

It’s not clear how many have died, nor whether those people were on the train or in the dump truck that was hit.

[27 June 2022 22:19 · Io Dodds]

Amtrak issues statement

Here’s the latest statement from Amtrak:

”On June 27 at 12:42 p.m. CT, Southwest Chief Train 4, traveling eastbound on BNSF track from Los Angeles to Chicago, derailed 8 cars and 2 locomotives after striking a truck that was obstructing a public crossing near Mendon, Missouri.

“There were approximately 243 passengers and 12 crew members onboard with early reports of injuries. Local authorities are currently assisting customers.

“Our Incident Response Team has been activated, and we are deploying emergency personnel to the scene to help support our passengers, our employees and their families with their needs.

“Individuals with questions about their friends and family who were traveling aboard this train should call 800-523-9101. Additional details will be provided as available. “

[27 June 2022 22:27 · Io Dodds]

‘It all happened like slow motion'

A local ambulance official has confirmed that there are multiple fatalities, according to CNN.

Chariton County Ambulance Service superintendent Eric McKenzie told the news outlet that more than one person was dead and at least 50 were injured.

Robert Nightingale, a passenger from New Mexico who was napping in one of the train’s sleeper cars, said: "It all happened like slow motion. It started to rock and, and rock, and then flicker, and then it just all of a sudden – all this dust was through my window.”

The window had slammed into the ground, meaning he could not get out that way. Instead he grabbed his backpack and climbed upwards into the corridor, eventually clambering out onto the side of the train, which was now pointing skyward.

[27 June 2022 22:46 · Io Dodds]

Patients being airlifted out

At least eight helicopters are ferrying patients from the derailed train, according to The Associated Press.

[27 June 2022 23:16 · Io Dodds]

Three dead, including two train passengers

Lt Eric Brown of the Missouri State Highway Patrol has just given a short press conference. He said that three people have died so far, two on the train and one in the truck that was hit.

The truck, he said, was driving over the rails at a crossing without any lights or electronic control devices, on a gravel road.