At least two dead, 70 injured in train crash in South Carolina

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An Amtrak train operating between New York and Miami in the US collided with a freight train in South Carolina on Sunday, leaving at least two dead and over 70 others injured, local police said.

The crash, which occurred at 2:30 a.m. local time in Cayce, caused the lead engine, as well as some passenger cars, to derail, Amtrak said in a statement.

Eight crew members and 139 passengers were aboard the train at the time of the accident.

The Lexington County Sheriff’s Department confirmed on Twitter that rescuers have helped all passengers get off the train.

The injured have been sent to a number of hospitals and the Red Cross said it was providing support to the victims.

About 5,000 gallons of fuel were spilled from the freight train following the crash, but there was no danger to the public, said an official from the South Carolina Emergency Management Division.

This is the latest incident involving an Amtrak train in the past few weeks.

An Amtrak train derailed in the state of Washington late last year, killing three people and injuring dozens.

Last week, an Amtrak train carrying Republican lawmakers to a retreat in the state of West Virginia hit a garbage truck near Charlottesville, Virginia, causing one death and two serious injuries.

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