NEW HAVEN, Conn., May 19 (UPI) -- Investigators said they were evaluating the crew, braking performance, wheel and track conditions, and speed in a Connecticut train derailment that injured 70.
Nine of the injured were still hospitalized Sunday, with one in critical condition and one stable, hospital spokesmen said.
Earl Weener of the National Transportation Safety Board said investigators were looking into whether the tracks were broken as a result of the Friday evening rush-hour derailment between Bridgeport and South Norwalk, or had been already broken, perhaps causing the accident.
"It is of substantial interest to us, and we will be sending a portion of that track back to the laboratory in Washington, D.C., for analysis," he said.
Gov. Dannel Malloy said the incident appeared to be an accident rather than an act of sabotage.
The two trains derailed after slamming together side-by-side. Witnesses told the Hartford (Conn.) Courant they felt a sharp bump and saw a cloud of smoke and dust as the trains jumped the tracks. While being evacuated, they saw a number of injured passengers being helped from other cars that had been heavily damaged.
Officials said Metro-North service for a 30-mile stretch between New Haven and South Norwalk, and Amtrak service between New York and New Haven, were shut down indefinitely, CNN reported.
Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch said i may be weeks before commuter rail service in Connecticut returns to normal.
