Two Amtrak trains collided at the Jack London Square station in Oakland Wednesday evening leaving up to 18 people injured. The crash occured after one Amtrak train carrying passengers ran a red light and struck a second train that was stopped and unloading passengers. The moving train was travelling at approximately 15 to 20 miles per hour when it struck the second train, according to reports.
Most of the injured passengers were aboard the stopped train. Although there were no life-threatening injuries reported, several people were taken to local hospitals. Both trains remained upright after the train crash, although one of the locomotives slightly derailed and damaged the pedestrian platform at the station.
The accident occurred at about 10 p.m. Wednesday, and service at the station remained suspended as of Thursday morning.
This is the second incident in two weeks in which Amtrak passengers were injured in the Bay Area. On Sept. 30, 37 passengers and two crew members were injured when an Amtrak train hit a truck at a crossing near Brentwood where there were no signal lights or gates.
Passengers involved in train accidents can sustain serious injuries that can have long term health implications. If you or a loved one has been the victim of a train accident and would like to speak with a train accident attorney, please contact us. We are here to answer your questions and discuss how to protect your legal rights. The attorneys at O’Connor, Runckel & O’Malley are well known and respected throughout the legal community and among our clients.
At O’Connor, Runckel & O’Malley we have nearly 45 years of litigation and trial experience. We have the expertise and a proven track record of success. From our offices in Contra Contra Costa County, San Francisco and Sacramento, we serve clients throughout Northern California. Our experience and expertise are available to you.
(Sources: LA Times, Mercury News, CBS)
