(Trends Wide) — At least three people have died after an Amtrak train derailed, said Justin Dunn of the Missouri Highway Patrol. Authorities say the train hit a dump truck at an “uncontrolled crossing,” that is, when there are no lights or electronic devices to warn cars of approaching trains and are common on rural roads.
Dunn said two of the people who died were inside the train and one was inside the dump truck.
He said a total of seven rail cars derailed and dozens of others who were injured were taken to area hospitals. Dunn added that those who were not injured were also transported away from the accident.
Authorities say the investigation is in the preliminary stages and more information will be released as it continues. The Missouri State Highway Patrol says it is still working with Amtrak and the other area agencies that responded to help.
The company said the train hit a dump truck at a public intersection near the town of Mendon at around 1:42 p.m. local time.
“There are approximately 243 passengers on board with initial reports of injuries,” company officials said in a statement. “Local authorities are currently assisting customers and we have deployed Amtrak resources to help.”
Everything was in slow motion, said the passenger
Robert Nightingale, a passenger with a sleeping car, said he was taking a nap when he heard something.
“It all happened like in slow motion. It started rocking, and rocking, and then it flickered, and then all of a sudden all this dust came through my window,” Nightingale, who is from Taos, New Mexico, told Trends Wide.
He said the train fell on the side his compartment was on.
Nightingale, who was not injured, said he couldn’t get through the window, which was blocked by dirt, so he grabbed his backpack and went out into the hallway. He then moved to a neighboring compartment where he found a way out and climbed onto the side of the train.
He said some people helped others to the ground where he and others walked to the front of the train. He said it looked like the truck had large rocks in it.
“He hit something important to cause … all the cars to go off the rails,” he said.
Mendon is about 100 miles northeast of Kansas City. The train was traveling from Los Angeles to Chicago.
Amtrak said people who need immediate assistance with train information can call or text 1-800-USA-RAIL.
The collision was the second in two days in which an Amtrak train collided with a passenger vehicle. On Sunday, 85 passengers were aboard a train in rural California that collided with a vehicle. Three people died and two people suffered serious injuries, according to authorities.
All of the victims were in the vehicle, officials added.
Trends Wide’s Amy Simonon and Andi Babineau contributed to this report.