Service Restored After Amtrak Trains Collide In Oakland
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS13/AP) -- Amtrak train service throughout Northern California is back up and running this morning after two Amtrak trains collided at an Oakland station Wednesday night injuring more than a dozen people.
Authorities originally reported 16 injures in the crash around 10 p.m. Wednesday. But Amtrak spokesman Cliff Cole says the company compiled numbers all night to arrive at the higher figure.
The injuries were all considered minor and non-life-threatening.
Authorities have said the crash occurred when a passenger train traveling an estimated 15 to 20 mph ran a red signal and struck a stationary train unloading passengers head-on.
Amtrak has said it could not comment on the report of the train running a red light.
The company says it and the owner of the tracks, Union Pacific Freight Railroad, will work with federal officials to investigate the crash.
In Sacramento, several dozen passengers slept at the Amtrak train station as they waited for train 18 which was involved in the Oakland accident.
"About 11:00 o'clock last night they said about four hours," said Megan Noblitt, a frustrated passenger in Sacramento. "That's about 3 to five hours past due."
"We we're anxious and we're tired," said another passenger Barbara Miller. "Trying to sleep a little bit but gave up on that."
Train service was finally restored just before 9:00 a.m. Thursday.
