Dozens Injured When Locomotive Collides With Passenger Train Near Fayetteville

<p>Authorities say 35 people were injured when a locomotive collided with an excursion train south of Fayetteville on the Arkansas-Missouri Railroad causing both to derail Thursday morning.</p>

Thursday, October 16th 2014, 2:51 pm

By: News On 6

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Dozens Injured When Locomotive Collides With Passenger Train Near Fayetteville

Authorities say 35 people were injured when a locomotive collided with an excursion train south of Fayetteville on the Arkansas-Missouri Railroad causing both to derail Thursday morning.

The crash occurred near the community of West Fork at about 10:30 a.m.

KFSM TV, the CBS affiliate in Fort Smith says of those injured, five are in critical condition. All were taken to nearby hospitals.

The National Transportation Safety Board has sent a team to the crash scene.

Authorities say there were 44 people on the passenger train including its crew. Ten engines and four passenger cars were involved in the crash.

KFSM said preliminary information from railroad and authorities at the scene indicate the passenger train was having trouble with slippage due to wet leaves on the tracks. A locomotive sent by the Arkansas-Missouri Railroad to help then collided with the passenger train.

Railroad officials said the excursion train was on a day-long 134-mile round trip that included a three-hour layover in downtown Van Buren.

Emergency management officials report about 300 gallons of diesel fuel also spilled at the crash scene.

Osage SkyNews 6 HD is en route to West Fork, Arkansas.