Amtrak train derails in SW Nebraska, 175 people on board
By: newsroom
8@klkntv.com
Amtrak passengers are stuck in Lincoln after a train derails in southwest Nebraska. The derailment happened around 9 o'clock Friday morning. It happened near the town of Benkelman, Nebraska in Dundy county. It's near the Kansas and Colorado borders.
The good news? No one was seriously hurt. The California Zephyr was carrying about 175 people between California and Chicago. Amtrak says a small number of passengers were taken to hospitals, just to be safe.
It says the train ran into some equipment and derailed. Two locomotives and the first three of 10 passenger cars left the tracks. “It's just a matter of cleaning up any hazardous materials like diesel fuel. Then calling in special services to put any cars back on the track that can.. And remove any that or immobile and figure out a way to clear it out to allow train traffic to resume,” Charlie Montaverty of Amtrak said.
Although the two locomotives tipped onto their sides. There was no fire and the 16 crew members were not hurt. Amtrak brought in busses to get the passengers to their final destinations.
The Zephyr was scheduled to stop in Lincoln on it's way to Chicago. If you know anyone that was on that train, we'd like to hear from you.
Please call channel 8 Eyewitness news at 402-436-2252 or email us: 8@klkntv.com
