Devastating Train Derailment

Investigators are looking into what could have caused the devastating train derailment last night in the Port Richmond section of Philadelphia, carrying 238 passengers from Washington D.C. to New York City. Seven passengers have been confirmed dead, 10 are in critical condition and dozens more are seriously injured. The direct cause of the accident is currently being investigated.

Amtrak sent a crew to the scene overnight, where first responders worked under the lights to examine the wreckage and search for survivors, injured passengers and crew members. Coincidentally, the location of this derailment is not far from where one of the nation’s deadliest train derailments occurred; the 1943 derailment of The Congressional Limited, which killed 79 people. Transportation analyst, Matthew L. Wald, said that this particular stretch of track is very heavily used and is often in need of repair. Mayor Michael Nutter called the scene “an absolute disastrous mess.”

As the investigation continues, members of the National Transportation Safety Board are looking at several factors, including the track, mechanical condition of the train, and human error. The train’s black box, which records the events leading up to the accident, has been recovered and is being examined by transportation officials.

Philadelphia personal injury lawyers at Galfand Berger LLP express their sympathy for the victims of this devastating accident. For those involved in the train crash, our experienced train accident lawyers in Philadelphia will work tirelessly providing the best legal counsel. Call 1-800-222-8792 to schedule your free consultation or contact us online.