DODGE CITY, Kan. (WLS) —
At least 29 passengers were injured after an Amtrak train derailed in southwest Kansas overnight.
Amtrak Southwest Chief Train No. 4 was supposed to arrive in Chicago at 3:10 p.m. Monday from Los Angeles. But just after midnight, seven train cars went off the tracks near Cimarron, Kansas, about 20 miles west of Dodge City.
Some passengers said just before the derailment, the train shook as it traveled more than 70 miles per hour. The rail company did not say how fast the train was traveling when it derailed.
Five cars ended up on their sides. Two other cars were still standing, but off the tracks.
“I got outside and there was just a lot of people. I heard a lot of people crying for help, looking for folks. It was a really dark field. Everyone was on both sides of the train, looking for other people and family members,” said Daniel Szczerba, a passenger.
A statement from Amtrak said the train consisted of two locomotives and nine cars and that there were 128 passengers and 14 crew members on board. Grey County spokeswoman Ashley Rogers said no one has life-threatening injuries.
One person was transported to a hospital by helicopter. Other injured passengers were transported to Dodge City Medical Center and Garden Medical.
Passengers who were not hurt were taken to a nearby recreation center, where they were offered food and coffee. The Red Cross was at the scene providing assistance.
“You can tell people are tired,” Rogers said. “They’ve had a long night.”
The stranded passengers will take buses to Chicago. There is no word on when they will get to Union Station.
The track the Amtrak train was riding on is owned and operated by Burlington Northern Santa Fe . Investigators are looking into what went wrong.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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