Amtrak-Freight Train Collision in Chicago Being Investigated
Posted by
Jenny AlbanoDecember 02, 2007 3:08 PMThe National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the cause of an Amtrak train and a freight train collision that injured dozens of people on Friday, November 30 in the south side of Chicago. The investigators are trying to figure out how both trains ended up on the same track at the same time.
Out of the 187 passengers on the Amtrak train, 71 were sent to hospitals in the area. When the collision occurred the passengers were thrown forwards from their seats. Four people had to be retrieved from the front of the train, where the engine of the vehicle is. Of those that were sent to the hospital, only three would be required to stay overnight. No one was in the part of the Norfolk Southern freight train that was hit, and neither of the two workers aboard the train were hurt.
A team of nine NTSB investigators would conduct interviews with crew members, passengers, dispatchers and supervisors in an investigation that could take months, he said. Officials were also awaiting information from an event recorder, a device similar to the flight recorders on airliners.
The Amtrak train was on its way to Chicago from Grand Rapids, Michigan and the freight train was coming from Elizabeth, New Jersey to Chicago.
The spokesman for Norfolk Southern stated that he had no details about what caused the accident and the Amtrak spokesman said it was not clear which of the trains was in the wrong place and did not know if the freight train was stopped or moving when it was hit. Amtrak shares the track with Norfolk Southern, the owner.
For more information on this subject, please refer to our section on Mass Transit Accidents.