Although the cause is not known, The National Transportation Safety Board investigators, will first look at whether the summer heat caused the track to buckle. The Temperatures on the day of the accident were in the mid-90s.

The Capitol Limited train was traveling from Chicago to Washington, DC with 173 passengers and crew. Before derailing only 10 miles from its destination.

The train cars derailed included two locomotives and eight occupied cars.

Initial reports put Ninety people hurt, with 30 serious injuries.

The track is owned and maintained by freight railroad CSX Corp. The most common cause of a derailment of this kind is poorly maintained track. This type of failure can occur as the track warps or develops weak points after heavy use. The culprit suspected in this crash, sometimes called a "sun bulge" is caused by heated track which warps. The National Transportation Safety Board, the same federal agency that investigates plane crashes will be responsible for investigating the cause. Since 1998, Amtrak trains derailed 258 times.

We represent victims of train accidents, who are injured by negligence. If you or a loved one have suffered an injury related to a railroad or train accident, please contact us to discuss the legal issues you need to address.


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