At least 21 reported injured after Amtrak train derails in Kansas

At least 21 people were hospitalized early Monday after a cross-country Amtrak train derailed in southwestern Kansas.

Amtrak confirmed that its Southwest Chief 4 train derailed approximately 20 miles west of Dodge City shortly after midnight local time.

Amtrak said that there were 128 passengers and 14 crew members on board the train, which was en route to Chicago from Los Angeles. A statement from the railroad said "approximately" 20 passengers were transported to hospitals in Dodge City and Garden City.


KSN-TV reported that 11 passengers had been taken to Western Plains Medical Center in Dodge City, while 10 others had been transported to St. Catherine Hospital in Garden City. None of the injuries were reported to be life-threatening.

Amtrak said the other passengers were brought to a recreation center and would be given alternate transportation to their final destination.

The Kansas Highway Patrol confirmed that five train cars were on their side and the derailment had forced the closure of U.S. Highway 50. Amtrak said the train had two locomotives and nine cars.

Susan Morgan, the mother of one of the passengers, told KAKE-TV that her daughter had to be helped out of the train after it began shaking while traveling 75 miles per hour.