Truck was on tracks despite gates when struck by Amtrak train: U.S. report

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A garbage truck was on the tracks despite lowered safety gates when it was struck by a train carrying Republican lawmakers in a fatal crash last month in rural Virginia, the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board said on Wednesday.

Data from a camera mounted on the front of the chartered Amtrak train showed the gates were down at the crossing at the time of the crash, according to a preliminary NTSB report on the Jan. 31 accident.

The report added that "witnesses to the crash reported that the refuse truck entered the crossing after the gates were down."

A passenger on the garbage truck was killed and two others on the truck were injured. No lawmakers were seriously injured but one lawmaker was taken to a hospital as a precaution and released.

The NTSB said previously that the Amtrak train was traveling at 61 miles per hour.


SOURCE: YAHOO NEWS