Seven passengers injured after Amtrak train derails in Florida
LAKELAND, Florida -- At least eight people were injured when an Amtrak passenger train carrying 163 passengers and 10 crew members derailed after hitting a semi-truck hauling cars in Lakeland, Florida, on Friday, the Polk County Sheriff's Office said.
"The train was east bound coming out of Miami then stopped in Tampa and it's final destination was going to be New York. There was 173 people on board. 163 passengers and 10 crew members. We had approximately 16 hundred gallons of diesel fuel in the front engine that made the initial contact with the semi. " said Battalion Chief Jason Bugsby with Lakeland Fire Department.
The train had left Miami and was en route to New York when it crashed at a railroad crossing south of US Route 92 and North Canal Avenue, the sheriff's office said.
Seven passengers sustained injuries and everyone had to be evacuated after the partial derailment.
The fire service said there were 1,600 gallons of diesel fuel in the front engine, which hit the semi-truck. The sheriff's office said a "small amount" of fuel leaked.
"It is truly a miracle that nobody was seriously hurt in this crash." Sheriff Grady Judd said in a statement. "A collision between a passenger train and a semi-truck could have been much worse."