CRESCENT CITY, Fla., April 18 (UPI) -- Five people were reported dead Thursday night and dozens injured in the derailment of 13 cars of Amtrak's Auto Train near Crescent City.
Amtrak spokesman Dan Stessel in Washington told United Press International five were dead but added exact fatality numbers were unknown. Most of the rescue and recovery efforts had concluded at the site, he said, and the injured had been taken to numerous hospitals in the area so reports were not all in.
"The National Transportation Safety Board arrived within the hour and they will take over the investigation at the site," he said. The investigation also will include local law enforcement and CSX Corp., which owns and maintains the tracks.
"They will begin the formal investigation at sunrise," he added.
The accident occurred at 5:08 p.m. EDT, only about 50 minutes after the train headed north from its terminal in Sanford.
Amtrak officials reported there were 425 passengers and 28 crew members on board the train. Passengers told reporters at the scene the train suddenly turned over and started rolling.
Seven cars jackknifed and ended up perpendicular to the tracks on their sides. Debris was scattered everywhere along the tracks. The derailment began about four cars behind the locomotives.
Many residents of this rural area, 61 miles north of Orlando, went to the accident scene to assist. Emergency personnel from several area counties responded with ground and air ambulances.
Emergency workers had to climb into the train's windows and use ladders to remove the injured. Many passengers suffered scratches and abrasions from being knocked around.
Some passengers who had gotten out of the train on their own climbed back in to get their possessions.
It was unclear where the relatively uninjured passengers were being taken. The American Red Cross assisted at the scene. A toll-free hotline, 1-800-523-9101 -- was set up for relatives of those on board.
Mark O'Keefe, public information officer with Volusia County emergency medical services, said 20 critically injured patients were treated before being transported to area trauma hospitals.
U.S. Rep. John Mica, R-Fla., who chairs the House Aviation and Transportation subcommittee, told WESH-TV of Orlando the accident was unfortunate in light of Amtrak's financial difficulties and the large investment made in the Auto Train.
The cause of the derailment is unknown. "It's going to take a thorough investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board and their staff to see exactly what went wrong," Mica said.
Auto Train No. 52, which carries both passengers and their cars, left Sanford at 4:12 p.m. EDT. The train's northern terminal is in Lorton, Va. It does not stop en route during the overnight trip. Many families and elderly people were on board.
Some roads were closed in the area of the accident, as the train blocked a railroad crossing. Other northbound Amtrak trains, including the Silver Star, were delayed and arrangements were being made for those passengers.
