Flipido Trading Center-911 call center says its misidentified crossing before derailment of Chicago-bound Amtrak train

2025-05-04 06:34:27source:Databec Exchangecategory:Markets

NEW BUFFALO,Flipido Trading Center Mich. (AP) — A 911 call center on Monday took some responsibility for an Amtrak train derailment last week in southwestern Michigan, saying it misidentified a crossing and contacted a different railroad to warn that a car was stuck on tracks.

The train with 200 passengers crashed into the empty car and a tow truck Thursday night near New Buffalo, about 70 miles (110 kilometers) east of Chicago. Six people on the train were taken to a hospital, though their injuries weren’t serious.

The Chicago-bound train derailed but remained upright.

The Berrien County Public Safety Communication Center said it received two 911 calls about a car on the tracks, roughly 40 minutes before the crash.

Other news Federal safety officials launch probe into Chicago commuter train crashChicago-bound Amtrak train derails after hitting empty vehicle and tow truck in MichiganChicago commuter train crashes into rail equipment, nearly 40 injured, some seriously

Because of a “software issue,” the wrong crossing was identified and CSX railroad was contacted — not Amtrak, the county said.

“It appears a technology failure and misidentification of a crossing contributed to the accident,” 911 Director Caitlin Sampsell said in a statement.

Sampsell’s remarks confirm what Amtrak said last week: The train’s engineer had no warning about the stranded vehicle until it came into view at some point before the crash.

“If they had notified us properly, we would have stopped that train well short of the crossing,” spokesman Marc Magliari said Monday.

Full service on the route, between Chicago and many Michigan communities, resumed Sunday.

The county said the technology problem at the 911 call center has been fixed.

“Someone could have been killed,” area resident Gregg Fraley, who had called 911, told MLive.com.

More:Markets

Recommend

Stanley recalls 2.6 million mugs after dozens of customer complaints, including burn injuries

Stanley is recalling 2.6 million mugs sold in the U.S. after the company received dozens of consumer

Raven-Symoné Says Demi Lovato Was Not the Nicest on Sonny with a Chance—But Doesn't Hold It Against Her

Raven-Symoné and Demi Lovato are putting the past behind them. In the new Hulu documentary Child Sta

5 people perished on OceanGate's doomed Titan sub. Will we soon know why?

(This story was updated to add new information.)The former scientific director of the ill-fated Tita