Hotline #825-A - May 16, 1994

This morning there was a serious accident involving Amtrak's southbound Silver Meteor and a northbound CSX freight train between Selma and Smithfield, N.C. At 4:40 am, the trains were passing each other on parallel tracks, with the CSX train going about 35 mph and the Meteor about 70 mph. On the CSX train, a truck trailer loaded with cat litter had shifted on its flatcar and was hanging out into the Meteor's path. This caused the Amtrak locomotive to spin around and go down an embankment. The rest of the train, but for the last car, derailed on the right-of-way.

The Amtrak assistant engineer was killed. Amtrak reports that seven passengers and the engineer were seriously injured and taken to hospitals. Another 68 people with less serious injuries were taken to hospitals and released. Uninjured passengers have been bussed away or put up in hotels. The total passenger count was 418, with 23 crew members. Persons seeking information on individual passengers may call Amtrak toll-free at 800/253-9101.

Amtrak trains are being detoured around Smithfield through Raleigh and Columbia and are subject to delay. CSX may have the route open by tomorrow morning.

Former Amtrak President Graham Claytor died May 14 at the age of 82. He had been hospitalized at Bradenton, Fla., for complications relating to cancer. He retired from the Amtrak presidency this past December 6, after serving 11 years. His body was brought north to Washington on the Silver Meteor of May 15. There will be a memorial service tomorrow, May 17, at Christ Church, at 31st and O Streets, N.W., in Georgetown in Washington. Then he will be taken by train for May 18 burial in his hometown of Roanoke, Va.