Amtrak Train Derailed in Missouri: A Sudden Turn‑off the Rails
What Went Down
At 1:42 p.m. Eastern (13:42), a 243‑passenger Amtrak splashed into a dirt crossing near Mendon, Missouri. The train, hauling a freight westbound from Los Angeles to Chicago, slammed into a dump truck that had no stoplights or bells. The impact sent eight cars and two locomotives rolling off their tracks.
- All but one car sat on its side next to the track, a patch of grass and farmland now marked by the downed freight.
- Passengers were seen scrambling out through the open windows — they were essentially “air‑borne” evacuees.
- Rescue crews arrived in droves, with a few helicopters hovering above the scene.
The Human Toll
Heartbreakingly, two people on the train and a third inside the truck lost their lives. A tally of at least 50 injuries has been reported by the Chariton County Ambulance Service.
One passenger, Robert Nightingale, told CNN that he was half‑asleep before the train hit the ground. “I could feel the tracks go back and forth, then the train tipped over on my side of the road,” he recounted from the school that now hosts stretcher‑filled volunteers.
Why the Crossing Was a Hotspot
Justin Dunn of the Missouri State Highway Patrol confirmed that the crossing was uncontrolled — no lights, no traffic signals. Normally, crossings like this would have stop signs and cross‑blocks, yet those safeguards were missing, contributing to the tragedy.
Investigating the Incident
The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) dispatched a team of 16 investigators the next morning. Their job: unravel how the collision happened and whether the train had cameras or a data recorder that might throw light on the wreckage.
With the line shut down for several days, the NTSB plans to meticulously examine what safety signals were present and whether the truck was free to roll through an unprotected crossing.
Looking Back
In September, a similar derailment in north‑central Montana claimed three lives. The pattern of such accidents underscores the importance of proper crossing signals — or the lack thereof.
Bottom Line
- More than 200 passengers aboard, 243 in total.
- Two fatal injuries on the train, one in the truck.
- Massive overhaul of highway and rail safety will follow.
While engineers and investigators dig into the dust and wreckage, the community is left to grapple with a sobering reminder: even a seemingly routine crossing can turn into a nightmare if the safety net is missing.
