Amtrak Train Derails in Michigan after Hitting Semi Truck

An Amtrak train derailed Wednesday morning after hitting a semi-truck and trailer in Jackson County, Michigan. There were no serious injuries reported, according to Michigan Highway Patrol. The train was traveling about 79 miles per hour when it struck the tractor trailer, which is the top speed. The impact caused the engine to derail and flip onto its side. The first two cars behind the engine also came off the tracks. The Amtrak was headed from Pontiac, Michigan to Chicago, Illinois. There were five crew members and 71 passengers on board.

The “lowboy” trailer that semi was pulling got stuck on the tracks, according to Richard White, who works for the Blackman Public Safety Department. The drivers of the truck, as well as five passengers, were taken to a local hospital. However, according to White, there were no life-threatening injuries.

Many of the passengers were knocked out of their seats in the crash. Others reported that the train felt as though it was jerking backwards. There was smoke coming out from under the train, according to passenger reports, but the passengers couldn’t get out for about ten minutes. This was the report from one of the passenger cars that managed to stay upright.

After about an hour of waiting, the passengers were taken by bus to the Jackson train station. Some passengers didn’t know when they would reach their final destinations. Service across much of central Michigan has been suspended for most of the day and those passengers affected by the delay can receive another ticket for a different day or a full refund.

Amtrak officials are investigating the crash, as are the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department and the Michigan State Police. It is not known if the truck driver was cited for any wrongdoing or if there will be any charges filed at a later date.

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