Chicago Injury Lawyer Blog
A collision between a California bound Amtrak train and a truck resulted in five deaths earlier this morning. The Amtrak train had reportedly left Chicago on Wednesday and was in Nevada about 300 miles from its destination when the accident occurred. The Amtrak train, California Zephyr, operates daily trips between Chicago and Emeryville, Ca. According to reports, the fatal train accident occurred when a truck hit the train at a public railroad crossing near the town of Lovelock, NV, around 11:20 a.m. The Amtrak train was carrying 204 passengers and 14 crew members at the time of the crash.
Witnesses describe a scene of confusion and panic following the heavy collision as smoke filled the train cars. Nearly all of the train passengers and crew had self-evacuated by the time emergency crews arrived. The end result of the train accident left 5 dead and another twenty injured. Many of the train accident survivors were taken to a local school for recovery. Some of the more seriously injured passengers had to be medivacked out from the scene of the train crash. The National Transportation Safety Board has started an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash. Individuals with questions about friends and family members that may have been aboard the train are encouraged to contact Metra at 1-800-523-9101.
It is important that vital evidence is preserved when a catastrophic train accident occurs. The Klest Law Firm is experienced in handling train accident cases and is currently pursuing claims on behalf of the victims of the Metra derailment of May 13, 2011.