Amtrak Crash: One Killed, Engineer Critically Injured
POSTED: 7:09 a.m. EDT May 7, 2003
UPDATED: 8:31 a.m. EDT May 7, 2003
MIAMI -- Passengers on a Miami-bound Amtrak train that derailed in Hinesville, Ga. Tuesday morning have finally reached their destination.
There were 150 people on board the train traveling from New York to Miami. The train should have arrived at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, but that was before a lumber truck crossed in front of the Silverstar just east of Hinesville.
When the train slammed into the truck, the driver of the 18-wheeler was killed and the train engineer was critically injured. Dozens of passengers were injured as they were tossed around the train cars.
While cars derailed, they stayed upright and zig-zagged as they ground to a halt.
One passenger who only gave her name as Susan said she didn't know what was happening.
"At first, I didn't believe we had actually hit something. I thought we had slowed down for a sec. But then I realized there was this big billow of smoke behind us and we were off the tracks," she said. "When we got off the train, there was wreckage, a lot of wreckage of the truck -- mangled pieces."
Only four of those injured had to stay in the hospital. Most were treated and released.
There were 150 people on board the train traveling from New York to Miami. The train should have arrived at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, but that was before a lumber truck crossed in front of the Silverstar just east of Hinesville.
When the train slammed into the truck, the driver of the 18-wheeler was killed and the train engineer was critically injured. Dozens of passengers were injured as they were tossed around the train cars.
While cars derailed, they stayed upright and zig-zagged as they ground to a halt.
One passenger who only gave her name as Susan said she didn't know what was happening.
"At first, I didn't believe we had actually hit something. I thought we had slowed down for a sec. But then I realized there was this big billow of smoke behind us and we were off the tracks," she said. "When we got off the train, there was wreckage, a lot of wreckage of the truck -- mangled pieces."
Only four of those injured had to stay in the hospital. Most were treated and released.
Copyright 2003 by Click10.com.
All rights reserved. This material may
not be published, broadcast, rewritten
or redistributed.








