
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, December 1, 1993                   TAG: 9312010127
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: INTERCESSION CITY, FLA.                                LENGTH: Short

AMTRAK TRAIN HITS TRUCK RIG, INJURING 70

An Amtrak passenger train smashed into a stalled tractor-trailer Tuesday as frantic state troopers tried to flag it down. About 70 people were injured.

The oversized truck carrying a 150-ton generator got stuck at a train crossing several minutes before the crash, said Chris Gent, a spokesman for the Kissimmee Utility Authority, which owns the generator.

A train dispatcher was notified about the stalled truck and told utility officials that the train was not due at the crossing until 1 p.m., said Gent, who witnessed the accident.

CSX spokeswoman Donna Rohrer said no record was found of such a phone call before the accident. The train struck the truck at 12:45 p.m., Amtrak spokeswoman Sue Martin said.

The first call the CSX operation center in Jacksonville received came from police at 12:46 p.m., notifying CSX of the accident 20 miles southwest of Orlando, Rohrer said. CSX, the owner of the track, then notified Amtrak.

Four of the eight cars on the Tampa-to-New York Silver Meteor derailed. The first sleeping car overturned when it jumped the tracks. Rescue workers had to pry off windows to reach passengers.

Of the approximately 70 people injured, many needed only minor treatment at the scene, state police Lt. Chuck Williams said.

by CNB