Tracks Repaired After Amtrak Derailment

Reported by: Kathryn Herr
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Updated: 10/02/2012 12:07 am

Railroad Crews worked through the night to repair a section of damaged track south of Hanford.

The tracks were twisted and bent after a semi truck ran into the train with 169 people on board.

The last two cars on the train, the engine and a passenger car, sat at an angle on the tracks. Those two cars, out of five on the train, were hit by the truck at the intersection of Kansas and 10th Avenues.

"The arms were down and signals were working, witnesses told us that," said Officer Jerry Pierce with the California Highway Patrol.

Witnesses also said the truck was trying to beat the train.

"It was like he didn't see the train. He hit the train, he rolled over and the train kind of wiggled around," said Sean Hodges who witnessed the crash.

The track was twisted where the rail cars swayed back and forth.

The passengers were violently tossed around.

Dozens were taken to the hospital, including a newborn boy, just a month old.

"My uncle walked down there and they just told him that my niece and sister are doing pretty good. But they're taking the baby in just in case because they both got banged up pretty good," said Blanca Ambriz, whose family was on board the train.

Those who weren't injured were put on buses to be taken into Hanford.

Christine Castillo was on board the train.

"The whole train started going down and the noise was extra loud and the smoke, it was actually dust,came up and the train just came apart," Castillo said.

The driver of the semi truck suffered moderate to major injuries.

The Amtrak train was in route to Bakersfield from Oakland. It had picked up passengers in Fresno and Hanford.

The intersection where the crash occurred is marked with lights and crossing arms.

"For the most part rural driving can be as dangerous or more dangerous then getting behind the wheel and driving to the corner market. So just focus your attention on the driving and slow down and be patient," Officer Pierce with the CHP said.

The driver of the semi truck could be sited for failing to obey safety equipment.

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tis himself - 10/2/2012 5:25 AM
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The driver of the semi-truck would have been 'cited', not 'sited' ... or did they issue him a web site instead of a citation?
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