All Amtrak service has been suspended between New York City and Philadelphia due to a derailment with reported fatal injuries on the track south of Philadelphia Sunday morning.
Amtrak investigators inspect the deadly train crash in Chester, Pa., Sunday, April 3 2016. The Amtrak train struck a piece of construction equipment just south of Philadelphia causing a derailment.
(Michael Bryant/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP)
Michael Bryant/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP
Amtrak train passenger Sadarein Walker is escorted to a waiting ambulance after an Amtrak train crash in Chester, Pa., Sunday, April 3, 2016. The Amtrak train struck a piece of construction equipment just south of Philadelphia causing a derailment.
(Clem Murray/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP)
Clem Murray/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP
Amtrak train passengers Christian Nwachukwu, from left, Allison Aborio and Ilan Davidson leave an Amtrak train crash in Chester, Pa., Sunday, April 3, 2016. The Amtrak train struck a piece of construction equipment just south of Philadelphia causing a derailment.
In this frame from video provided by WPVI, emergency personnel work on an Amtrak train following an accident Sunday, April 3, 2016, in Chester, Pa. Amtrak said the train was heading from New York to Savannah, Ga., when it struck a backhoe outside of Philadelphia.
(WPVI via AP)
WPVI via AP
Police and investigators cover the body of one of the individuals killed in an Amtrak train crash in Chester, Pa., Sunday, April 3, 2016. The Amtrak train struck a piece of construction equipment just south of Philadelphia causing a derailment.
(Michael Bryant/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP)
Michael Bryant/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP
This photo shows an Amtrak train following a crash Sunday, April 3, 2016, in Chester, Pa. Amtrak said the train was heading from New York to Savannah, Ga., when it struck a backhoe outside of Philadelphia.
(Glenn R. Hills Jr via AP)
UPDATE: Sunday, 3:12 p.m.: Limited service has been restored between Wilmington, Delaware and Philadelphia, according to Amtrak. Service had been completely suspended due to the derailment near Chester, Pennsylvania.
WASHINGTON — All Amtrak service has been suspended between New York City and Philadelphia due to a derailment with reported fatal injuries on the track south of Philadelphia Sunday morning.
Amtrak confirmed that Train 89, operating from New York City to Savannah, Georgia, on the Northeast Corridor, struck a backhoe that was on the tracks and derailed the lead engine. ABC News and NBC News have independently confirmed two deaths associated with the accident.
There were approximately 341 passengers and seven crew members on board. Local emergency responders are on the scene and an investigation is ongoing.
Ari Ne’eman, a disability rights activist heading to Washington after speaking at an event in New York, said he was in the second car at the time of the crash.
“The car started shaking wildly, there was a smell of smoke, it looked like there was a small fire and then the window across from us blew out,” said Ne’eman, 28, of Silver Spring, Maryland.
Some of the passengers started to get off after the train stopped, but the conductor quickly stopped them. Officials started evacuateing people to the rear of the train and then off and to a local church.
“It was a very frightening experience. I’m frankly very glad that I was not on the first car,” where there were injuries, he said. “The moment that the car stopped, I said Shema, a Jewish prayer … I was just so thankful that the train had come to a stop and we were OK.”
MARC is operating a full Sunday schedule Sunday and is not affected by Amtrak service disruption near Philadelphia.
Individuals with questions about their friends and family on train 89 should call Amtrak’s Emergency Hotline at 800-532-9101.
