Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
MACK, Colo. (AP) -- At least six people have been hurt after an Amtrak train carrying 106 people from Chicago to California derailed near the Utah state line.
Authorities say the California Zephyr struck a boulder approximately the size of a pickup truck at about 10:20 last night. The 12-by-12-foot rock had landed on railroad tracks west of Grand Junction.
Mesa County sheriff's spokeswoman Susan McBurney says three engines plus three to five coaches derailed in Ruby Canyon.
Four crew members and two passengers suffered injuries that Amtrak spokesman Clifford Black described as being "in the category of bumps and bruises." All six were treated and released from a Grand Junction hospital.
A hazardous materials crew reported a diesel spill, but McBurney says it was isolated to a trench the locomotive dug when it derailed.
Washington, D-C-based Amtrak is providing overnight lodging for the passengers until other travel arrangements can be made.
(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
