An Amtrak train carrying nearly 200 passengers collided with a water truck in Southern California on Wednesday, but there were no major injuries, officials said. Three of the train’s seven cars derailed following the collision at Moorpark, Ventura County Fire Department Capt. Bryan said. The driver of the truck, who was one of the people taken to McGrath Hospital, got out of the vehicle before the crash, McGrath said. Derailed train cars stood upright on the tracks next to an orchard and empty land. Most travelers did. McGrath said they exited the train on their own or with the help of first responders around 11:20 p.m. Television news helicopters showed large numbers of people, many carrying luggage, milling about in a field as firefighters worked on the scene. Amtrak said in a statement that the train was en route from Seattle to Los Angeles when “a water truck struck the tracks blocking the tracks” around 11:15 a.m. “Approximately 198 passengers and 13 crew were evacuated from the train. There were no reports of serious injuries,” the statement said. “Amtrak is working with customers to make alternative travel arrangements. Amtrak, in coordination with local authorities, is conducting a full investigation.” Crews were able to quickly extinguish the small fire, McGrath said. Moorpark is a city of about 35,000 people located 50 miles (80 kilometers) northwest of downtown Los Angeles.
An Amtrak train carrying nearly 200 passengers collided with a water truck and derailed in Southern California on Wednesday, but there were no major injuries, officials said.
Ventura County Fire Department Capt. Brian McGrath said three of the train’s seven cars left the tracks following the collision at Moorpark.
Eight people were taken to hospitals — seven with minor injuries and one with moderate injuries, the fire department said Twitter.
Parts of the wrecked truck remained on the tracks after the crash, while other parts lay next to the derailed train cars. McGrath said the driver of the truck, who was one of the people taken to hospitals, exited the vehicle before the crash.
Derailed train cars stood upright on the tracks next to an orchard and empty land.
Most passengers were able to get off the train on their own or with the help of first responders, who were called around 11:20 a.m., McGrath said.
TV news showed helicopters carrying loads of people and milling about in the field as firefighters worked on the scene.
Amtrak said in a statement that the train was traveling from Seattle to Los Angeles when it “struck a water truck blocking the tracks” around 11:15 a.m.
“Approximately 198 passengers and 13 crew were evacuated from the train, with no serious injuries,” the report said. “Amtrak is working with customers to make alternative travel arrangements. Amtrak, in coordination with local authorities, is conducting a full investigation.
Crews were able to quickly put out a small fire, McGrath said.
Moorpark is a city of about 35,000 people located 50 miles (80 kilometers) northwest of downtown Los Angeles.
