On Tuesday night an Amtrak passenger train derailed going at 106 miles an hour. The accident caused seven deaths and over 200 injuries.
It is currently unknown what the exact cause of the crash was, but the speed of the train far exceeded the speed limit. On a tight turn, the train’s speed was more than double the 50 mph speed limit. The train was traveling on a track in the Northeastern-Corridor, a track taken by numerous commuters and business travelers.
Before the crash, the train engineer applied the emergency brake, but the train barely decreased in speed after the brakes were applied. Some other trains, such as in Philadelphia, have automatic systems that adjust the train’s speed according to safety standards.
Investigation is taking place to find the causes of the train’s crash. Though the speed is a likely factor, officials are unsure if it was the sole cause of the crash. The engineer of the train will be interviewed in a few days for greater insight into the moments before the crash.
The train itself, Northeast Regional Train 188, did not have such automatic speed regulators, but did have alert systems that should have alerted the engineer with sounds and lights. Train 188 was carrying 238 passengers and 5 crewmembers, most of the passengers struggled to exit the train, which was crumpled and twisted after it flew off the track. The crash forced the shutdown of train travel between New York and Philadelphia, creating a rush for bus tickets and shuttles by commuters.
Nearby hospitals took in the majority of injured passengers, most of who were treated and discharged quickly. However, not all passengers have been accounted for. Police officers continue to search the area of the crash for missing passengers. Officials state that there is a possibility some passengers may have been flung from the train in the crash.
