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Investigators in Amtrak derailment looking at rail condition

Via Salina Post
Via Salina Post

CIMARRON, Kan. (AP) — A federal transportation official says investigators looking into the derailment of an Amtrak passenger train in southwest Kansas plan to review rail conditions and other factors.

Amtrak’s Southwest Chief was carrying more than 140 people when several rail cars derailed early Monday. Authorities say the accident happened moments after an engineer noticed a significant bend in a rail and applied the emergency brakes. At least 32 people were hurt, two of them critically.

Local authorities are checking whether a vehicle crash may have damaged the track before the accident.

National Transportation Safety Board member Earl Weener said investigators will review data from cameras and recorders on the train as well as the condition of the rails and crew performance. He put the train’s speed at the normal limit of 60 mph.

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