Train derails in Montana, killing 3

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The scene of a train derailment near Joplin, Mont. Associated Press/Photo by Ted S. Warren

A westbound train en route to Seattle from Chicago jumped the tracks on Saturday. With two locomotives and 10 cars, the train was carrying about 140 passengers and 16 crew members. Eight of the 10 cars derailed about 4 p.m. near the town of Joplin. Three people died, and seven others were taken to the hospital with injuries.

What caused the crash? Investigators with the National Transportation Safety Board are combing the scene but as of Sunday had not determined why the train derailed. Matt Jones, a BNSF Railway spokesman, said the track where the accident happened was last inspected on Thursday.

Dig deeper: From the WORLD archives, read Maria Baer’s report about a deadly train derailment in the northeastern United States that sparked a transportation funding debate.

Kent Covington

Kent is a reporter and news anchor for WORLD Radio. He spent nearly two decades in Christian and news/talk radio before joining WORLD in 2012. He resides in Atlanta, Ga.

@kentcovington