At least 20 injured in California train crash

Hanford: Two cars and the locomotive of an Amtrak passenger train carrying about 169 passengers derailed Monday after colliding with a big rig truck in California’s Central Valley, authorities said.

At least 20 passengers suffered minor to moderate injuries, authorities said. The 12:25 p.m. crash occurred when the driver of the tractor-trailer carrying cotton trash failed to yield and hit the train, authorities said. The impact pushed the two passenger cars and the locomotive off the tracks south of Hanford, a farming town. The train traveled about 600 feet (180 meters) after the collision before hitting a switchback and derailing, according to California Highway Patrol Officer Scott Harris. Officials have not determined how fast the train or the truck were going, but the average speed for Amtrak through the area is 70 mph (113 kph) to 80 mph (129 kph), while the speed limit on the roadway where the truck was travelling is 55 mph (89 kph), Harris said. After the crash, metal pieces from the truck could be seen inside the train, which was covered by cotton seeds. Several pieces of luggage were also scattered around the area. Kings County Assistant Sheriff Dave Putnam described the injuries to passengers as bumps, bruises, scrapes and possibly broken bones. [caption id=“attachment_476406” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Pic used for representational purposes only.[/caption] The crash occurred at a crossing that was equipped with gates to stop traffic, Putnam said. Eight of the injured passengers were taken to Adventist Medical Center in Hanford and five more were expected, said hospital spokeswoman Christine Pickering. She did not provide details on the extent of their injuries. Four additional injured passengers were taken to nearby Adventist Medical Center in Selma, while seven people were taken to Community Regional Medical Center in Fresno, officials said. The train was on its way from Oakland to Bakersfield, according to Amtrak. It had four rail cars and a locomotive. The truck driver suffered minor injuries, according to California Highway Patrol spokesman Jerry Pierce. Investigators will try to determine if the crash was caused by driver error, a malfunctioning crossing arm, or something else, the CHP said. Pierce said the other passengers have been taken to an auditorium in Hanford, where they will board a train and continue to their destinations or family members will pick them up. All train service through the area has been stopped, with the work of moving the derailed rail cars and repairing the tracks expected to last through early Tuesday, officials said. Meanwhile, authorities were at the scene of a second accident involving a freight train and a tractor-trailer about 10 miles (16 kilometers) away. In the second collision, which took place around 4 pm, the truck driver suffered major injuries, according to the CHP. No additional details have been released. AP