Amtrak train derailed in Montana; 3 dead, several injured

Montana : Nothing less than three people lost their lives as an Amtrak train derailed in north-central Montana on Saturday afternoon (local time), said an official with the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office. The train runs between Seattle and Chicago. 

At the time of accident, there were approximately 147 passengers and 13 crew members onboard the train, Amtrak said.

In the initial reports, the cause of derailment was not clear. Also, the number of total passengers injured in the accident is yet to be identified. It is suspected that more than 50 passengers have been injured.

The Empire Builder train derailed at 4 p.m. near Joplin, a town of about 200, Amtrak spokesman Jason Abrams said in a statement. The accident scene is about 150 miles (241 kilometers) north of Helena and about 30 miles (48 kilometers) from the border with Canada.

The train authorities are working with the local officials to transport the injured passengers to the hospital and safely evacuate all other passengers, Abrams added.

Photos posted to social media showed several cars on their sides. Passengers were standing alongside the tracks, some carrying luggage.

The images showed sunny skies, and it appeared the accident occurred along a straight section of tracks.