The three people killed when an Amtrak train derailed in north-central Montana and injured at least 50 passengers on Saturday have been identified.
Among the deceased was a retired couple, Don and Margie Varnadoe, who were celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary, and 28-year-old Zach Schneider, who was traveling to Portland from Missouri with his wife.
The westbound Empire Builder train, carrying 141 passengers and 17 crew members, was traveling between Seattle and Chicago when it derailed at 4pm.
Eight train cars fell off the two locomotive, 10-car train near Joplin, a town of about 200, Amtrak spokesperson Jason Abrams said in a statement.
A team of investigators and specialists in railroad signals from the National Transportation Safety Board will look into the cause of the derailment on a BNSF Raliway main track that involved no other trains or equipment, NTSB spokesperson Eric Weiss said.
The accident happened about 150 miles (241 kilometers) northeast of Helena and about 30 miles (48 kilometers) from the border with Canada.
The Varnadoes, who were from Georgia, were remembered for their heavy involvement in the Glynn County School District, where Margie served as a teacher, principal, personnel director and assistant superintendent of human resources, according to The Brunswick News.
Don served as a school board member in the district for four years from 1998 to 2002. He also worked as a real estate agent on St Simons Island before he retired.
A fellow St Simons real estate agent, Roland Daniel told Daily Mail that the Varnadoes were ‘great, wonderful, honorable people’ whose death was a large shock.
The third victim, Schneider, was aboard the train with his 26-year-old wife, Becca.
Schneider worked as an engineer in Missouri, Daily Mail reported.
A GoFundMe page was set up by a friend of the family for his funeral expenses. More than $25,000 had been raised as of Monday afternoon.
Caleb Morris, who set up the page, described his friend as ‘one of the sweetest, smartest, and most unique people’ who ‘always used this (GoFundMe) to push for a better world where everyone was included’.
Seven other passengers aboard the train were seriously hurt and taken to an area hospital.
Amtrak CEO Bill Flynn said Sunday his firm was distraught over the derailment, the cause of which is still being investigated.
‘We are in mourning for the people who lost their lives due to the derailment of the Empire Builder train Saturday, near Joplin, Montana, on the BNSF Railway, as well as the many others who were injured,’ Flynn said.
‘We have no words that can adequately express our sorrow for those who lost a loved one or who were hurt in this horrible event. They are in our thoughts and prayers.’
Amtrak is cooperating with the investigation. He added they are working with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the Federal Railroad Administration, local law enforcement and response agencies, according to the statement.
‘Amtrak’s immediate and sustained focus is on doing everything we can to help our passengers and crew, especially the families of those who were injured or died, at this painful and difficult time,’ Flynn added.
Amtrak has sent emergency personnel and company leadership to help support passengers, employees and their families.
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