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| Amtrak Collision With Backhoe Leaves 2 Dead, Officials Say | Amtrak Collision With Backhoe Leaves 2 Dead, Officials Say |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| CHESTER, Pa. — An Amtrak train derailed southwest of Philadelphia, killing two people and injuring dozens more early Sunday after striking a railroad backhoe on the tracks, the authorities said. | |
| The two people who were killed were not on the train when the lead engine of Amtrak’s Train 89, running from New York City to Savannah, Ga., came off the tracks shortly before 8 a.m., said Ruth Miller, a spokeswoman for the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency. | The two people who were killed were not on the train when the lead engine of Amtrak’s Train 89, running from New York City to Savannah, Ga., came off the tracks shortly before 8 a.m., said Ruth Miller, a spokeswoman for the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency. |
| “They were on, in or near the backhoe that was struck,” she said in an email about the two people killed. “I cannot confirm age, gender, name or employer. I simply don’t have that information at this point.” | “They were on, in or near the backhoe that was struck,” she said in an email about the two people killed. “I cannot confirm age, gender, name or employer. I simply don’t have that information at this point.” |
| Amtrak did not return calls seeking comment about the deaths. | Amtrak did not return calls seeking comment about the deaths. |
| The railroad said more than 30 passengers had been transported to hospitals, though none with life-threatening injuries. | The railroad said more than 30 passengers had been transported to hospitals, though none with life-threatening injuries. |
| The collision was powerful enough to mangle the front of the engine, shattering its windshield, and jolt many people from their seats. Several witnesses described seeing flames shoot up. | The collision was powerful enough to mangle the front of the engine, shattering its windshield, and jolt many people from their seats. Several witnesses described seeing flames shoot up. |
| “The direct impact was big,” a passenger, Adriene Hobdy, said in a telephone interview. “It was terrible, absolutely terrible. | “The direct impact was big,” a passenger, Adriene Hobdy, said in a telephone interview. “It was terrible, absolutely terrible. |
| “All you felt was boom, boom, boom boom. Our windows flew out. People were trying to get on the floor, trying to walk.” | “All you felt was boom, boom, boom boom. Our windows flew out. People were trying to get on the floor, trying to walk.” |
| It was unclear why the maintenance equipment came to be on a live section of track Sunday morning. Cpl. Steven Byrne of the Chester Police Department said an understanding of how the accident unfolded remained sketchy. | It was unclear why the maintenance equipment came to be on a live section of track Sunday morning. Cpl. Steven Byrne of the Chester Police Department said an understanding of how the accident unfolded remained sketchy. |
| “We’re trying to make way through this mess,” he said. | “We’re trying to make way through this mess,” he said. |
| Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Railroad Administration were being dispatched to Chester, the agencies said. | Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Railroad Administration were being dispatched to Chester, the agencies said. |
| The train was carrying about 340 passengers and seven crew members, Amtrak said. | The train was carrying about 340 passengers and seven crew members, Amtrak said. |
| Many of those who were able to walk were taken by foot to a nearby church, Trainer United Methodist Church, where they gathered in a gym and were given food and water. In turn, they were being put on regional buses and transported to Philadelphia, Amtrak said. | Many of those who were able to walk were taken by foot to a nearby church, Trainer United Methodist Church, where they gathered in a gym and were given food and water. In turn, they were being put on regional buses and transported to Philadelphia, Amtrak said. |
| Ms. Hobdy, 33, who was given ibuprofen for injuries to her knees, described scenes of panic and confusion after the train came to a halt. | Ms. Hobdy, 33, who was given ibuprofen for injuries to her knees, described scenes of panic and confusion after the train came to a halt. |
| “People started saying, ‘Get up and walk toward the back, leave your luggage, get up and walk toward the back.’ So we did,” she said. | “People started saying, ‘Get up and walk toward the back, leave your luggage, get up and walk toward the back.’ So we did,” she said. |
| Ms. Hobdy said she did not observe any injuries that appeared serious, but some people seemed to have back pain, and others were using clothing to try to stop the flow of blood from cuts. | Ms. Hobdy said she did not observe any injuries that appeared serious, but some people seemed to have back pain, and others were using clothing to try to stop the flow of blood from cuts. |
| Amtrak offered an emergency hotline, 800-532-9101, for people with questions about friends and family on the train. | Amtrak offered an emergency hotline, 800-532-9101, for people with questions about friends and family on the train. |
| Stephen Gardner, an Amtrak spokesman, said the railroad’s service between New York and Philadelphia remained operational but was suspended between Philadelphia and Wilmington, Del. The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority also briefly halted its service. | Stephen Gardner, an Amtrak spokesman, said the railroad’s service between New York and Philadelphia remained operational but was suspended between Philadelphia and Wilmington, Del. The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority also briefly halted its service. |
| New Jersey Transit said that it was continuing to offer its regular Sunday service along the Northeast Corridor. It said it would accept Amtrak tickets between New York and Trenton during the service interruption. | New Jersey Transit said that it was continuing to offer its regular Sunday service along the Northeast Corridor. It said it would accept Amtrak tickets between New York and Trenton during the service interruption. |
| Safety concerns about Amtrak flared last year after the derailment of a New York-bound Amtrak train in Philadelphia left eight people dead more than 200 others injured. | Safety concerns about Amtrak flared last year after the derailment of a New York-bound Amtrak train in Philadelphia left eight people dead more than 200 others injured. |
| Still, passenger deaths have been relatively rare, with trains derailing about 30 times a year over the past decade, according to data from the Federal Railroad Administration. | Still, passenger deaths have been relatively rare, with trains derailing about 30 times a year over the past decade, according to data from the Federal Railroad Administration. |
| Last month, an Amtrak train derailed in southwest Kansas, sending more than 30 passengers to hospitals. | Last month, an Amtrak train derailed in southwest Kansas, sending more than 30 passengers to hospitals. |