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Missouri officials have declared a ‘large fatality event’ after a passenger train traveling from Los Angeles to Chicago hit a dump truck that was blocking a public crossing and completely derailed.

There are multiple fatalities and at least 50 people were injured after all eight of the train’s passenger cars and its two locomotives came off the tracks, local officials told CNN.

The Southwest Chief Train 4, which was traveling from Los Angeles to Chicago, collided with the truck that was obstructing the public crossing and came off the tracks at Mendon in Missouri around 12.42pm CT Monday, Amtrak confirmed to DailyMail.com. 

There were ‘early reports of injuries,’ Amtrak said in a statement, adding that there were 243 passengers and 12 crew members onboard at the time of the crash.  

Shocking photos taken in the immediate aftermath show a female passenger being helped out of a broken window, while others were seen atop overturned cars. 

Local emergency personnel have responded to the scene. 

Missouri officials have declared a 'large fatality event' after an Amtrak train collided with a dump truck at a public railroad crossing and overturned

Missouri officials have declared a ‘large fatality event’ after an Amtrak train collided with a dump truck at a public railroad crossing and overturned 

The Southwest Chief Train 4, which was traveling from Los Angeles to Chicago, collided with the truck that was obstructing the public crossing and came off the tracks at Mendon in Missouri around 12:42 p.m. CT Monday

The Southwest Chief Train 4, which was traveling from Los Angeles to Chicago, collided with the truck that was obstructing the public crossing and came off the tracks at Mendon in Missouri around 12:42 p.m. CT Monday

Survivors of an Amtrak crash in Missouri shared a photo of themselves atop the overturned train

Survivors of an Amtrak crash in Missouri shared a photo of themselves atop the overturned train 

A broken truck axle was snapped close to the track in the aftermath

A broken truck axle was snapped close to the track in the aftermath 

Rob Nightengale, one of the train passengers, went live on Facebook shortly after the accident that sent at least eight of the train cars rolling onto their sides. 

In the video, the train passengers’ world is turned upside down and they are seen trying to prop themselves awkwardly against the side of the toppled over train car, while trying to avoid stepping on glass from the shattered windows.   

Nightengale spoke to CNN in a phone interview and said that those in the dining car and observation deck had the hardest time getting to safety.

Another passenger tweeted several images of the derailment, then posted that they had taken refuge at a local high school in Mendon, Missouri. 

‘So thankful for the people here, safely at the Northwestern high school near Mendon,’ Dax McDonald tweeted. ‘This town pulled together to help everyone.’

Rob Nightengale, one of the train passengers, went live on Facebook, showing the aftermath of the accident as the passengers awkwardly prop themselves against the side of the toppled over train car, and avoid stepping on glass

Rob Nightengale, one of the train passengers, went live on Facebook, showing the aftermath of the accident as the passengers awkwardly prop themselves against the side of the toppled over train car, and avoid stepping on glass

One passenger tweeted that they had taken refuge at a local high school in Mendon, Missouri, writing: 'So thankful for the people here, safely at the Northwestern high school near Mendon. This town pulled together to help everyone'

One passenger that they had taken refuge at a local high school in Mendon, Missouri, writing: ‘So thankful for the people here, safely at the Northwestern high school near Mendon. This town pulled together to help everyone’

Journalist Nylah Burton, who was on a separate Amtrak train set to depart Albuquerque, says she was informed of the possible deaths and injuries by a staff member who came into her car to announce a delay caused by the incident. 

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She tweeted: ‘An @Amtrak train just derailed in Kansas City (there are likely fatalities but they don’t know all the details) so I’m stuck in Albuquerque tonight because the train can’t go any further.’

A Twitter user called Durand shared the shocking snaps, saying: ‘Oh no.. #Amtrak derailment somewhere in #Missouri.’ 

Amtrak confirmed to DailyMail.com that multiple injuries were reported, but no additional details were released. 

Amtrak tweeted that the Southwest Chief Train 3, which was scheduled to depart Chicago, has been canceled. Amtrak asks passengers to contact 1-800-USA-RAIL for further assistance.

Mendon is about 100 miles northeast of Kansas City, Missouri.

Passengers stand on top of a derailed Amtrak train after it collided with a dump truck at a public crossing in Missouri Monday afternoon

Passengers stand on top of a derailed Amtrak train after it collided with a dump truck at a public crossing in Missouri Monday afternoon

The derailment comes one day after another Amtrak train collided with a car at a crossing in Brentwood, California, on Sunday afternoon, killing three women, and injuring several others. 

Three women, all over the age of 50, were pronounced dead at the scene in Sunday’s crash, according to The Mercury News.

Authorities say the car pulled into a long rural dirt driveway near the intersection of Orwood Road and Bixler Road around 1pm when the Amtrak train rammed into it.

The car then careened off the road and hit another vehicle.

A child and two men were also hospitalized with serious injuries, and another person suffered from moderate injuries.

In total, a spokeswoman for BNSF Railway told the New York Times there were ‘approximately’ five people injured, though the number remains in dispute.

Authorities say the car careened off the road following the impact and hit another vehicle

Authorities say the car careened off the road following the impact and hit another vehicle

Those who who were seriously wounded were rushed to the John Muir Medical Center after the crash on Sunday afternoon, according to ABC News. One of the adults was airlifted and the child was transported by the ground, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

The victims were all inside the four-door sedan when it was struck, officials say, and Battalion Chief Craig Auzenne, of the East Contra Costa Fire Protection District, told reporters at the scene that none of the 81 passenger or five crew members on board the train were injured.

In fact, he said, the train came to a stop about a quarter-mile from where the sedan slammed into an SUV.

An investigation into the crash is ongoing. 

But East Contra Costa Fire Department officials say they’d already been called out to that train crossing twice last year because it does not have a traffic guard.

‘It’s a bad crossing,’ Steve Aubert, a fire marshal said, noting that trains travel at about 80mph on the tracks.

‘It’s just a recipe for disaster unfortunately.’ 

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