South Carolina Amtrak Crash Kills Two, Injures Hundreds
May 25 2018, Updated 1:24 p.m. ET
An Amtrak train crashed in South Carolina this Sunday, February 4, just following the horrific collision in Virginia earlier this week. The accident resulted the deaths of two passengers, and left over 100 injured.
According to reports, a railroad switch was locked in the wrong position as the train was making its way to its final destination, at around 2:45 am this Sunday. Due to the life-threatening mistake, the Amtrak train was rerouted and made to go onto a track that was already occupied by another train.
Most passengers were asleep when the crash occurred.
According to Reuters, Amtrak President and Chief Executive Richard Anderson blamed CSX for the incident, saying the track signals were not well designed and were therefore responsible for the train's diversion.
CSX offered heir condolence to the families of the deceased, and said it was working with federal investigators to figure out what caused the crash.
After the brutal collision, President Donald Trump took to twitter to voice his sadness over the matter. "My thoughts and prayers are with all of the victims involved in this morning's train collision in South Carolina. Thank you to our incredible First Responders for the work they've done!" he wrote.
Following the tragedy, various officials and individuals in the industry took to social media to state their concerns. Najmedin Meshkati, a University of Southern California engineering professor, even claimed it was becoming "an epidemic," for Amtrak!
"Every one of these accidents, in fact, could have been prevented'' said Robert Sumwalt, chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board. "How many years have we been calling for Positive Train Control?"
As RadarOnline.com readers know, earlier this week a train filled with Republican congressmen crashed onto a garbage truck on its way to West Virginia. One person was pronounced dead.
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