An Amtrak train carrying 171 passengers collided with a flatbed truck stalled on the tracks in Amite City, Louisiana, killing the truck driver and injuring 2 passengers yesterday (May 10).
The crash happened around 2 p.m. approximately 75 miles north of New Orleans near the crossing of Highway 51 and Pope Lane. The train was headed from Chicago to New Orleans.
Thirty-five-year-old truck driver Stephen Ricketson was killed on site during the accident.
The train suffered significant damage to the engine and had to be disabled. Passengers were evacuated and taken to Greater Refuge Temple Ministries before being loaded onto Greyhound buses to be taken to their destination.
Amite Fire Chief Bruce Cutrer said that the reason for the crash was not immediately apparent and needed further investigation.
Sources:
Seattle PI
WGNO
NOLA