Amtrak Cars Derail In SW Kansas, Injuring Dozens

Five cars of an Amtrak train derailed in southwest Kansas early Monday, sending more than two dozen people to hospitals.

An Amtrak statement said the train was traveling from Los Angeles to Chicago when the passenger cars derailed just after midnight about 20 miles west of Dodge City.

The Kansas Highway Patrol told CBS News the five cars were on their side.

Authorities said 29 people were taken to hospitals after the derailment in rural Kansas.

Grey County spokeswoman Ashley Rogers said of the 29 people hurt, none has life-threatening injuries.

Amtrak said the train consisted of two locomotives and nine cars and had about 128 passengers and 14 crew members on board.    Rogers said she went to the scene and saw five cars on their sides and two others that were off the tracks but still standing.

She said buses and ambulances have taken the passengers who are not hurt to a community building in the small town of Cimarron to wait while Amtrak makes arrangements to take them to their destinations.

The Western Plains Medical Complex in Dodge City, Kansas told CBS News it took in 16 patients and at least two were in critical condition.

St. Catherine Hospital in Garden City, Kansas told CBS News it was treating 11 patients. None of those injuries was considered life-threatening, the hospital said.

The cause of the mishap was unclear.