At least three people were killed and more than 50 were injured when an Amtrak passenger train derailed in the state of Montana. Traveling between Chicago, Illinois and Seattle, the state of Washington crashed near Joplin, a city of about 200 people, on Saturday afternoon.
Amtrak spokesman Jason Abrams said in a statement that the Empire Builder train rolled off the tracks around 4pm local time. The crash site is about 150 miles (241 kilometers) north of Helena and about 30 miles (48 kilometers) from the Canadian border.
Boarding the train 147 passengers and 13 crew, According to Abrams.
Amtrak has been working with local authorities to transport the injured and evacuate all other passengers safely, Abrams added.
Photos posted on social media showed several wagons leaving the tracks and passengers with luggage.
Megan Wanderwest, who was traveling by train to visit a friend in Seattle, told the newspaper The New York Times That The trail woke her up.
Vanderwest, from Minneapolis, said, “We were derailed first because I was worried and heard stories about derailed trains.” My second thought is this is crazy. We don’t consider it necessary to comment on such fabrications. “
Vanderwest told the newspaper the car behind him was tilted, the car behind him completely overturned and the other three were behind. “They left the tracks completely and detached from the train.”
The governor of Montana, Republican Greg Gianford, said in a message on social networking site Twitter, “People should join me in praying for the chiefs who came to help all those affected.”
U.S. Senator John Tester, de-Montana also tweeted: “My thoughts are on the scene with all the passengers, crew and first responders.”
Amtrak said the track was affected by the Empire Builder service on Saturday nights and Sundays. Saturday trains traveling in Montana between Minot and Shelby were canceled.