3 dead after Amtrak train crashes into dump truck in Missouri, causing several cars to derail

Three people are dead and 50 injured after a packed Amtrak train slammed into a dump truck and derailed in north-central Missouri on Monday, the Missouri State Highway Patrol said.

Two of the fatalities were on the train, and one was in the dump truck, Cpl. Justin Dunn of the Missouri State Highway Patrol said at a briefing Monday afternoon. The collision occurred at an “uncontrolled crossing,” one without warning lights or electronic devices to indicate a train is bearing down, he said.

The collision occurred at about 1:42 p.m. local time at a public crossing in the city of Mendon as the Amtrak train was traveling from Los Angeles to Chicago, the transportation company said.

The train was traveling northeast at about 90 mph as it approached Marceline, Missouri, KSHB-TV reported, citing a train tracker. Five minutes later, the tracker showed it completely stopped.

In this photo provided by Dax McDonald, an Amtrak passenger train lies on its side after derailing near Mendon, Mo., on Monday, June 27, 2022. (Dax McDonald/AP/)

“There are approximately 243 passengers onboard with early reports of injuries,” Amtrak said in a statement, adding later that 12 crew members were also aboard. “Local authorities are currently assisting customers and we have deployed Amtrak resources to assist.”

Amtrak said eight cars and two locomotives had derailed, while the highway patrol said it was seven cars.

High school students from Pleasant Ridge High School in Easton, Kansas, were among the train’s passengers, Tim Beying, superintendent of the Easton Unified School District, told The Kansas City Star. They were headed to a conference in Chicago.

“I can confirm we had students on the train traveling to a national FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America) conference,” Beying said, without giving the number of students.

In this photo provided by Dax McDonald, debris sits near railroad tracks after an Amtrak passenger train derailed near Mendon, Mo., on Monday, June 27, 2022. (Dax McDonald/)

A photo on social media showed train cars lying on their sides with dozens of people surrounding or sitting on them.

Passengers described scrambling to escape the train after the cars toppled sideways.

“They’ve got every rescue helicopter and crew here from every direction,” shaken passenger Ron Goulet of Flagstaff, Arizona, told The Daily Beast. “The train toppled over on its side. Every seat was sold out full, and they were packing people into the observation car because they were so full. There are plenty of people on back boards being taken [away] by paramedics.”

The derailment occurred a day after an Amtrak passenger train collided with a car in Brentwood, Calif., killing three people inside the car and injuring at least two others.

Mendon is located in Chariton County, Mo., about 100 miles northeast of Kansas City.

With News Wire Services