Amtrak vs Norfolk Southern freight 11/30/07 --Chicago

[grumpyff 1,159]

Date: 11/30/07

Time: approximately 1130 am

Location: Chicago South side in railyard near 52 Street west of Shields AVenue

Departments: Chicago FD/EMS/PD

Description: Amtrak train with 1 locomtive and 3 coaches strikes the rear of stopped freight train,coming to a rest on top of a flat car.

Links: Chicago Tribune : http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/c...hi_tab01_layout

Writer: Grumpyff

The Amtrak train #371 from Grand Rapids, MI was carrying 187 passengers and 6 crew members when it struck the stopped freight train. News reports state there were 5 critical, 9 seroius, and about 50 minor injuries. Crew members had to extricated from the cab of the locomotive that was straddling a flat car. FD and EMS had some difficulty in accessing the site , due a hill and fencing. Crews also had to deal with a fuel spill from the locomotive. The link to the Chicago tribune provides some excellent photos of the site, triage, and diificulties accessing the site.

Edited December 1, 2007 by grumpyff