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Amtrak train derails in Missouri, injuries reported

amtrak train derails Missouri
Image: Twitter

Several cars of a long-distance train derailed Monday afternoon in the US state of Missouri, with early reports of injuries among the nearly 250 passengers, the rail company said.

The Amtrak train, traveling on a route from Los Angeles to Chicago, struck a dump truck at a public rail crossing in the area of Mendon, Missouri.

“There are approximately 243 passengers onboard with early reports of injuries,” the company said in a statement, adding that it had dispatched employees to assist local authorities in the response.

Images shared on social media showed at least five railcars on their side in a corn field, with passengers climbing out the windows and doors.

AFP was not able to immediately confirm the authenticity of the images.

The derailment comes one day after another Amtrak-operated train collided with a passenger vehicle at a railroad crossing in California, resulting in three deaths.

The crossing involved did not have guards, and a local fire official said it was not uncommon to have accidents there, the local NBC affiliate reported.

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AFP

Agence France-Presse (AFP) is a French international news agency headquartered in Paris, France. Founded in 1835 as Havas, it is the world's oldest news agency.







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