News / Society

US train derailment injures at least 51 people

Tuesday, 24 February 2015 3:29 PM [ Last Update: Tuesday, 24 February 2015 6:56 PM ]

A Los Angeles-bound Metrolink train derailed on Tuesday morning near the city of Oxnard, about 75 miles (120 kilometers) from Los Angeles.

A Metrolink train has derailed in the US state of California after it collided with a vehicle on the track, injuring some 51 people, according to officials.

The incident happed on Tuesday morning near the city of Oxnard, about 75 miles (120 kilometers) from Los Angeles, the officials said.

"For some reason there was a tractor trailer on the tracks there at Rice Avenue and Train 102 collided with it," Scott Johnson of Metrolink told CBS News.

The vehicle caught fire and several train cars derailed.

Police detained the driver of the truck, who attempted to run from the accident site.

Television pictures showed that several train cars were derailed, and the truck caught fire.

The commuter train was carrying loads of passengers toward Los Angeles at the start of the morning rush hour.

Aerial footage from the scene shows several emergency vehicles at the site, with numerous fire fighters and paramedics moving the injured people into ambulances.

GJH/GJH

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