Amtrak Train Derails In Spartanburg Co. Stranding 207 Passengers
Posted: Nov 25, 2013 12:36 AM EST
Updated: Nov 25, 2013 8:54 AM EST
SPARTANBURG COUNTY, S.C. -
An Amtrak train derailed in Spartanburg County early Monday morning. More than 200 passengers were stuck on the train that left the tracks near Cedar Crest Road and Falling Creek Road.
Officials say it happened shortly after midnight when seven of the nine cars of Train 20, the Amtrak Crescent, lost contact with the track and went into the gravel. Amtrak says the cars did not tip over. The tracks have been closed as crews work to clear the cars that were traveling from New Orleans to New York. Cedar Crest Road is blocked at the tracks. The South Carolina Highway Patrol says that anyone who lives and works in the area should plan accordingly.
According to Captain Derrick Miller with the Westview-Fairforest Fire Department there were injuries among the 207 passengers and 11 crew members. Amtrak says none of injuries were serious.
Power, heat and restrooms were restored soon after the derailment.
Charter buses were sent from Charlotte to pick up the passengers and take them to Washington D.C. where they will be transferred to another train.
Amtrak and the owners of the track, Norfolk Southern, are investigating the derailment.
-- Edited by Calvin on Monday 25th of November 2013 07:15:46 AM