Amtrak Nevada Crash: Death Toll Rises, Truck Driver Tried to Stop

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Amtrak Nevada Crash: Death Toll Rises, Truck Driver Tried to Stop

BY LISA STARK (@Stark) and LAUREN VANCE

June 26, 2011

Officials have raised the death toll to six in a fiery truck-Amtrak train crash

east of the Reno, Nev.

The truck plowed into the side of train Friday afternoon in a moment of sudden

impact that set off a huge fireball.

In the last several days, investigators combed through the charred and gutted

wreckage looking for clues.

Investigators also plan to review the background of the tractor trailer driver.

" Investigators will look at the truck driver's driving and medical records, as

well as autopsy results to determine whether any drugs were involved, " National

Transportation Safety Board spokesman Knudson told ABC affiliate KOLO-TV

in Reno.

" They'll also check to make sure railroad lights and crossing gates were

working, " he added.

According to the Nevada State Police that the driver tried to slow down at the

last minute but was unable to stop.

Officials said they found extensive skidmarks from the truck, indicating the

driver had slammed on the breaks.

The preliminary investigation and witness statements indicate the truck driver

was going northbound on U.S. 95 and the gates were operational and flashing

before the collision. Witnesses said it appeared that the driver tried to slow

down at the last minute but couldn't.

What remains confusing is that witnesses indicate that at least the signal gates

there were working, although it's unclear whether the signal lights were working

as well, investigators said.

The NTSB dispatched a " go-team " to investigate Friday's accident.

Searching for Clues

On Friday, investigators had trouble getting access to the smoldering rail cars

to discover if they could locate additional survivors or victims.

Among the dead was 68-year-old conductor Lorette Lee, who came from a long line

of railway workers.

Nevada Highway Patrol Trooper Dan told ABC News on Friday that 18 to 20

people were transported to hospitals in buses for treatment.

Local media reported " dozens " of people were hurt, including some carried in

helicopters to trauma centers.

Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari in Oakland, Calif., told The Associated Press

that 204 passengers and 14 crew members were aboard the California Zephyr en

route from Chicago to Emeryville, Calif., which is about 300 miles west of the

crash site.

Passenger Celia Levaca was with her young son in the train car that the truck

hit.

" My son's the only thing I grabbed when everything happened, " Levaca said.

" Everything happened so fast. "

Two of the rail cars caught fire as passersby on the highway stopped to help.

Local and state police and rescue squads rushed to the scene. A nearby Naval air

station also sent helicopters to help evacuate the injured.

The accident at 11:20 a.m. PT Friday shut down a section of U.S. 95 between

Interstate 80 and Fallon, Nev.

Amtrak set up a phone number where friends and family of people aboard the train

could seek information -- .

Collisions at rail crossings are not uncommon. Safety groups estimate that a

train in the United States collides with a person or vehicle nearly every three

hours.

In 2010 there were more than 2,000 collisions between vehicles and trains at

railroad crossings, according to Operation LifeSafer.

ABC News Radio and The Associated Press contributed to this report.