Two sisters among those killed in Missouri Amtrak crash

Two adult Kansas sisters were among four victims killed when an Amtrak train slammed into a dump truck in Missouri two days ago, injuring 150.

One of the survivors confirmed to KSHB 41 News that her mother and aunt were among those who died in Monday’s wreckage.

The sisters, who have not been named, were also traveling with their mother at the time. It was not immediately clear if the mother was injured.

The driver of the dump truck and another passenger on the train were also killed, authorities said.

None of the victims have been publicly identified. As many as 150 people were taken to 10 hospitals with injuries ranging from minor to serious, the Missouri State Highway Patrol said.

At least 15 people remained hospitalized Tuesday evening.

The Amtrak train was traveling from Los Angeles to Chicago when it struck the rear of the truck at a level crossing, causing the derailment of two locomotives and eight cars.

Investigators said they were downloading information from the recorder to determine the speed of the train, when the horn was blown and if the emergency brake was deployed.

Some of that information could be released as early as Wednesday, National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer L. Homendy said.

The crossing in rural western Missouri has no lights or other signals to warn of an approaching train, authorities said.

Following the crash, the county leader-elect said residents and local leaders have been pushing for improved safety at the crossing for nearly three years.

A spokeswoman for BNSF Railway, which owns the track, declined to comment on « specific conversations » about improvements to the crossing, citing the ongoing investigation into the fatal crash.

With post wires