An Amtrak company train, with eight cars and 243 passengers, derailed after hitting a garbage truck in Mendon, Missouri.
At least three people died and another 50 were injured.two of the dead were passengers of the train and the other was in the truck, as reported by the Missouri highway police.
The US National Passenger Rail Service said the train collided with the vehicle at a crossing while traveling from Los Angeles to Chicago.
The Southwest Chief was carrying about 243 passengers and 12 crew members when the impact occurred, eight cars and two locomotives were derailed.
Three passengers were taken to Columbia University Hospital, according to hospital spokesman Eric Maze. Among the passengers on the train were high school students from Pleasant Ridge High School in Easton, Kansas, who were on their way to a Future Business Leaders of America conference in Chicago, Superintendent Tim Beying told The Kansas City Star.
Passenger Robert Nightingale said he was sleeping when he heard something. “It all happened in slow motion. It started moving back and forth, the lights flickered, and all of a sudden the dust came through my window.”