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A little over a year after a fatal train derailment in rural Mendon, Missouri, the National Transportation Safety Board has released its findings on the accident. The NTSB says the grade of the crossing contributed to the fatal collision, which is a passive crossing that lacks flashing lights and bells and gates. When it derailed in mid-Missouri, the Amtrak passenger train was traveling from Los Angeles to Chicago with 270 passengers and 12 crew members. The crash left three passengers and a truck driver dead. At least 146 people were transported to 10 different hospitals for treatment of injuries related to the accident. The NTSB says it has determined that the steepness of the roadway and the angle of the crossing at a passive crossing contributed to a collision between a dump truck and the approaching train.” The steepness of the roadway in this case was 13 times the maximum gradient recommended by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO),” the NTSB said in a news release Wednesday. “In addition, the angle of the intersection was 30 degrees sharper than the lower limit of the range recommended by AASHTO.” The report also found that the train’s horn complied with federal regulations. The dump truck driver was also found not to have been on his cell phone or impaired at the time of the accident. After the collision, Chariton County closed the intersection involved. Beginning in July 2023, Missouri’s state budget includes $50 million for crossing safety improvements. Transport plans to use part of these funds to deal with passive crossings. Gov. Mike Parson says the new state budget includes money to improve railroads. Lawsuits related to the crash are likely to go to trial in August 2024. A plan related to the new allocation of funds is set to be announced by the governor at a news conference Thursday. Lawyers have agreed to consolidate eight lawsuits into one. The trial may last three to four weeks. It will be held in Linn County, north of the crash site. Changes are likely on the way to the level crossing where the accident occurred. Neighbors and county leaders are detailing years of warnings about lack of visibility and clearance near a train crossing at the site of Monday’s fatal Amtrak crash near Mendon. Missouri Department of Transportation commissioners have already approved $400,000 to make safety upgrades at the intersection on lights, crossing gates and roadway improvements. While the NTSB said the intersection played a role in the incident, their probable cause finding was that it was still unclear why the truck driver entered the intersection despite a stop sign and an approaching train. More coverage of the Mendon Amtrak derailment:
A little over a year after a deadly train derailment in rural Mendon, Missouri, the National Transportation Safety Board published its results into the crash.
The NTSB says the grade of the crossing contributed to the fatal collision, which is a passive crossing that lacks flashing lights and bells and gates.
When it derailed in mid-Missouri, the Amtrak passenger train was traveling from Los Angeles to Chicago with 270 passengers and 12 crew members.
Three passengers and a truck driver died in the accident. At least 146 people were transported to 10 different hospitals for treatment of injuries related to the accident.
The NTSB says it has determined that the steepness of the grade of the road and the angle of the crossing at a passive crossing contributed to a collision between a dump truck and the approaching train.
“The steepness of the roadway in this case was 13 times the maximum slope recommended by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO),” the NTSB said in a news release Wednesday. “Additionally, the angle of the intersection was 30 degrees sharper than the lower limit of the range recommended by AASHTO.”
The report also found that the train’s horn complied with federal regulations. The dump truck driver was also found not to have been on his cell phone or impaired at the time of the accident.
After the collision, Chariton County closed the intersection involved. Beginning in July 2023, Missouri’s state budget includes $50 million for crossing safety improvements.
Transport plans to use part of these funds to deal with passive crossings.
Gov. Mike Parson says the new state budget includes money to improve railroads. Lawsuits related to the crash are likely to go to trial in August 2024. A plan related to the new allocation of funds is set to be announced by the governor at a news conference Thursday.
Lawyers have agreed to consolidate eight lawsuits into one. The trial may last three to four weeks. It will be held in Linn County, north of the crash site.
Changes are likely on the way to the level crossing where the accident occurred. Neighbors and county leaders describe years of warnings about the lack of visibility and clearance near a train crossing at the site of Monday’s deadly Amtrak crash near Mendon.
Missouri Department of Transportation commissioners have already approved $400,000 to make safety upgrades at the intersection on lights, crossing gates and roadway improvements.
While the NTSB said the intersection played a role in the incident, their probable cause finding was that it was still unclear why the truck driver entered the intersection despite a stop sign and an approaching train.
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