Amtrak train strikes dump truck, killing at least three people

An Amtrak train with 255 people onboard collided with a dump truck Monday afternoon in Missouri, killing at least three people when multiple cars ran off the tracks.

The deaths were confirmed by an official with the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Amtrak said in an initial statement that there were “early reports of injuries.”

The train was traveling to Chicago from Los Angeles when it hit the truck at 1:42 p.m. at a public crossing near Mendon, Missouri, Amtrak said. The collision resulted in the derailment of eight cars and two locomotives.

There were 243 passengers and 12 crew members on the train, Amtrak said.

Photos and video posted online by users who said they were onboard showed cars on their side, with people standing atop and beside the train.

Local authorities are assisting customers, Amtrak said. The rail service activated its incident response team and has deployed emergency personnel.

The derailment follows an accident involving an Amtrak train that collided with a car in California on Sunday, resulting in three deaths, according to multiple local media reports. Another Amtrak train derailed in Montana last year.