SEE IT: Amtrak Train Derails in Montana, Killing Several and Injuring Dozens
In a cruel twist of irony, the end of Rail Safety Week was marred by tragedy in Montana on Saturday, as an Amtrak passenger train careened of the tracks in Montana, perplexing investigators.
The incident caused a vast majority of the 10-car train to derail, injuring dozens and killing at least three people.
Amtrak joined federal safety officials Sunday to investigate a Montana train derailment that left at least three people dead, seven people hospitalized and rural communities scrambling to provide food and shelter to the stunned survivors.
Advertisement - story continues belowThe westbound Empire Builder train with 141 passengers and 17 crew members derailed Saturday afternoon near Joplin, a town of less than 200 people a few miles from the Canadian border in Liberty County. The tragedy occurred as Amtrak was closing out its nationwide, annual Rail Safety Week.
“The NTSB is launching a go-team to investigate Saturday’s derailment of Amtrak’s Empire Builder train,” the National Transportation Safety Board said on Twitter, adding that the team would be based in Great Falls, Montana.
Images of the carnage were soon trending on social media.
My mother-in-law shared these photos with me—the Empire Builder @Amtrak train they were on derailed near Havre, Montana. @AmtrakAlerts pic.twitter.com/6p7aksKdTF
— Jessica Arp (@newsbyjessica) September 25, 2021
BREAKING: Multiple people have been injured after an Amtrak train that runs between Seattle and Chicago derailed in north-central Montana, the train agency said. The train had about 147 passengers and 13 crew onboard, Amtrak said. https://t.co/sLRtR25kWz
— The Associated Press (@AP) September 26, 2021
https://twitter.com/ThisIsMarietta/status/1441946955781869569?s=20
⚠️🇺🇸#ALERT: Amtrak train derailment with multiple injuries reported in Montana#Joplin l #MT
147 passengers and 13 crew members were onboard when the train derailed, causing a car to completely tip. Injuries have been reported.
The extent of the injuries are currently unknown. pic.twitter.com/MOIkQyVvZw— Intel Point ALERT (@IntelPointAlert) September 26, 2021
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of those involved.