An Amtrak train carrying 243 passengers and 12 crew members derailed in Missouri after hitting a lorry, with at least three deaths and several injuries, the rail service said on Monday.
The Southwest Chief Train 4 was travelling from Los Angeles to Chicago when it struck the vehicle, which was blocking a public crossing in the town of Mendon at 1.42pm, Amtrak said.
Three people were killed, a member of the Missouri State Highway Patrol told the media.
Several others were injured and some were taken to a nearby hospital for care.
The impact derailed eight cars and two locomotives.
Mendon is about 135 kilometres north-east of Kansas City, Missouri.
The service said local authorities were assisting customers and that it had sent more resources to assist. Amtrak said further details would be provided “as available”.
Photos shared on Twitter by a man who claimed to be on the train showed people on top of the train helping others to exit. Another photo showed four wheels detached from the train.
On Sunday, three people were killed and two were seriously injured after a westward-bound Amtrak train struck a car in the rural city of Brentwood, California.
The railway crossing where the collision occurred did not have crossing arms or signals, a local fire marshal said.
He said trains were allowed to travel up to 128 kph through the community.
