An Amtrak Mardi Gras Service train struck a trailer that had become stuck on the tracks in Grand Bay, leaving the locomotive partially derailed and several crew members injured, according to emergency personnel at the scene.
The collision happened Sunday morning at about 7:20 as the train departed Mobile en route to New Orleans. A trailer hauling two vans had gotten stuck minutes earlier while crossing the tracks on Highway 188, just off Highway 90. The driver called 911 and tried unsuccessfully to have the trailer towed clear before the train arrived.
Crew Members Hurt; Passengers Uninjured
First responders said several people were hurt in the impact, though the injuries were not believed to be serious. Amtrak confirmed the injured were crew members who were treated at the scene. None of the 48 passengers aboard were hurt.
The force of the crash derailed the front wheels of the locomotive. Crews spent the morning working to clear both the highway crossing and the rail line.
Passengers Bused Onward
Amtrak said riders aboard the train were given snack packs and water while crews worked. Later that morning, the railroad returned the train to Mobile, where passengers transferred to alternate transportation to continue their trip to New Orleans.
The Highway 188 crossing has since reopened.