A train carrying over 200 people in the United States derailed and collided with a water truck. The water truck | Train | United States
A train carrying over 200 people from the National Railroad Corporation of the United States partially derailed after colliding with a water truck in southern California on the 28th. The driver of the water truck was seriously injured, and more than ten people on the train were lightly injured, all of whom have been taken to the hospital.
According to USA Today, this train is the Coast Starlight operated by Amtrak, numbered 14. Amtrak stated in a statement that the train was originally scheduled to depart from Los Angeles to Seattle, but at around 11:15 am, it collided with a water truck that was blocking the tracks while traveling around Mulpark, Ventura County, California.
According to the statement, there are a preliminary count of 198 passengers and 13 crew members on the train. Officials from the Wentura County Magistrate's Office said that the water truck is believed to be a public utility vehicle delivering water to the local farm.
Moorpark City is approximately 80 kilometers from downtown Los Angeles and has approximately 35000 residents.
After the incident, local police, fire departments, and other emergency rescue personnel rushed to the scene, and a reception area was set up in Murpark City to facilitate communication between passengers and their relatives.
According to Brian McGrath, an official from the Tula County Fire Department cited by the Associated Press, three out of seven train carriages derailed after colliding with a water truck. The water truck driver suffered a head injury and was taken to a trauma center.
According to the updated data released by the Wentura County Fire Department, a total of 16 injured individuals were transported.
In addition, one of the derailed carriages caught fire, but the fire was not significant. Firefighters quickly extinguished the fire upon arrival.
Mindy Faffer, a passenger who experienced a shocking scene, said she was sitting with her mother in a seat facing the rear of the car. "Suddenly, there was a 'pop' sound, and she saw the water tank of a water truck rolling past the window.".
The image of the accident scene shows that the water transport vehicle was severely deformed due to collision; The train was also damaged to a certain extent, with some carriages derailed and tilted, and parts of the water truck that was hit were scattered around the carriages. Most passengers are able to leave the carriage on their own or with the help of others, and some injured passengers are carried away by rescue personnel on stretchers.
TV news footage shows that while firefighters were working on site, many train passengers were wandering in the nearby fields with luggage.
Amtrak stated that all personnel on the train have been evacuated, and the company is coordinating with relevant parties to transfer passengers. The company suspended railway services from Ventura County to Los Angeles. According to ABC, the tracks were also damaged due to the collision.
McGrath said that an investigation has been conducted into the cause of the accident.