Two Slightly Hurt as Amtrak Train Derails

Four cars of an Amtrak train heading from New Orleans to Los Angeles derailed Friday in a switching yard, but only two minor injuries were reported among the 307 people aboard the 11-car train.

Hours after the 6:37 a.m. accident, passengers on the Sunset Limited boarded the five remaining cars on the train to complete the run, with a stop in Pomona before their final destination, said Amtrak spokesman Arthur Lloyd.

The four derailed cars remained upright. Two others were damaged but remained on the track in the West Colton Railroad Classification Yard, said Central Valley Fire District Division Chief Richard Poole.

The derailed cars came to rest with one set of wheels outside the tracks and the other set between the rails about 55 miles east of Los Angeles.

The train was traveling at 61 m.p.h., but the speed limit through the yard, used primarily for freight trains, is 70 m.p.h., said John Jacobsen, an Amtrak spokesman in Washington. The train carried 20 crew members.

Rialto Police Lt. Brian Hebbard said one passenger was treated for a cut hand at the scene and another was taken to Loma Linda University Medical Center for emergency room treatment after complaining of head and neck pains.

Cause of the accident was under investigation.