200 Amtrak passengers stranded on derailed train in South Carolina privateofficer SPARTANBURG, SC Nov 26 2013 More than 200 Amtrak passengers are headed to their final stop after they were stranded for more than eight hours Monday morning in Spartanburg County. Westview Fire Capt. Derrick Miller said that seven cars, carrying 207 passengers and 11 crew members, went off the track on Cedar Crest at Falling Creek Road in Spartanburg County just after midnight. Miller said the cars were in an upright position, but some minor injuries were reported. Amtrak said the train was running from New Orleans to New York when seven of the nine cars derailed. Passengers were stuck onboard the derailed trains, which had power and heat, according to Amtrak. Charter buses were brought in to help get passengers to their final destination. Buses were headed to Charlotte, Charlottesville and Washington DC. FOX Carolina spoke with one of the passengers on the phone, who described what happened when the train derailed. “The train started to buck, started to twist,” said Barbara Gray. “Some of us were falling out of our chairs.” FOX Carolina spoke to more passengers after they got off the train. One mom said one of her kids was able to sleep through the derailment, though another child was upset. She said everything worked out OK because, “We made it, we survived.” Firefighters at the scene said four people were injured and a Norfolk Southern rail truck was able to take them from the derailed train to waiting paramedics early Monday morning. They said the injured were taken to the hospital, later released and returned to the scene of the derailment so they could catch a bus to their final destination Norfolk Southern owns and operates the railroad tracks. Their public relations director said an investigation is underway to figure out why the train derailed. He said the tracks are inspected daily. Norfolk Southern was able to allow other trains to pass through the area, which is near exit 69 along Interstate 85 behind the Adidas plant. Once all of the passengers had left the area, crews began work to right the derailed cars and get the train back on track. Cedar Crest and Falling Creek roads remain closed because of the derailment and investigation. Crews at the scene said drivers cannot get through on the closed road or cross the tracks. There is no word yet when they will reopen. FOX Carolina
Posted on: Tue, 26 Nov 2013 12:25:56 +0000
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