6 Dead as Amtrak Train Derails

Six people are confirmed dead and more than 200 injured when an Amtrak passenger train derailed near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Tuesday night.

Many passengers have either crawled or been pulled from the wreckage though not all individuals are accounted for. Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) arrived on the scene Wednesday morning to begin gathering information that may give clues to why the train derailed.

Speculation of various explanations are being investigated including the speed of the train at the time of the crash and the condition of the tracks. The NTSB is hopeful that a swift conclusion could be made. Important to the investigation process are the derailed train’s black box, which is similar to the black boxes found on commercial airplanes, as well as the conductor of the train who survived with minor injuries. The data from the black box and the testimony of the conductor will provide valuable information on the ongoing investigation.

Investigators will look at the speed of the train at the time of derailment, the conditions of the tracks, any mechanical issues the train may have had, and any actions the conductor and crew took that may have influenced the train in any way.

The House Appropriations Committee has a debate on transportation on their agenda for Wednesday. The debate covers the issue of funding for Amtrak as well as budgeting for rail safety programs.

Details from the black box being analyzed in Delaware will be released as soon as investigators are through collecting the data.