#Train #Derailment #Alaska EDIS CODE: VI-20140724-44650-USA Date & Time: 2014-07-24 03:34:22 [UTC] Area: USA, State of Alaska, White Pass & Yukon Route tourist train A popular tourist train derailed Wednesday in southeast Alaska, and nine people suffered non-life-threatening injuries, officials said. The derailment occurred during the afternoon run of the White Pass and Yukon Route tourist train, which goes from Skagway, Alaska, into Canada. There were few immediate details of what happened, but railroad President John Finlayson said the train derailed as it reached the White Pass Summit. State officials said they werent sure late Wednesday afternoon how many cars derailed or whether the accident even occurred in Alaska or Canada. The National Transportation Safety Board was informed of the accident, but it wasnt immediately clear if rail safety personnel would investigate. Medical workers went to the scene, where responders outnumbered the injured, said Jeremy Zidek, a spokesman for the state Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. Initial reports had as many as 12 people injured. Power was restored to the train, and it brought everyone back to Skagway, about 100 miles northwest of Juneau, railroad officials said without immediately being able to provide more details. The injured were taken to a clinic in Skagway, said Buckwheat Donahue, tourism director for the municipality. Some already had been released before 6 p.m., approximately three hours after the derailment. Coast Guard planes and other air ambulances were on standby in case they were needed to transport the injured, but that didnt appear to be necessary, Donahue said. Most of the people on the train suffered scratches and bruises, he said. Bartlett Regional Hospital in the state capital was told to prepare for as many as 25 victims, Juneau radio station KTOO reported. That number was later downgraded before the warning was canceled. The train is a popular tourist attraction, taking passengers on a three-hour, 40-mile roundtrip tour out of Skagway. It climbs to 2,865 feet at White Pass Summit before it turns around and heads back, Finlayson said.
Posted on: Thu, 24 Jul 2014 17:38:44 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015