Boy Scout Troops on the Amtrak sprung to action once it crashed
Two Boy Scouts troops who were on a Chicago-bound Amtrak train that derailed after hitting a dump truck in Missouri, assisted fellow passengers in getting them to safety and provided first aid.
In the immediate aftermath of the derailing, the two groups of scouts broke windows and helped pull people out of train cars. They also used their advanced first-aid training to help injured passengers before first responders arrived at the crash site. One of the scouts, a 15-year-old boy, located the driver of the dump truck and assisted him before the driver died from his injuries.
The driver was ejected from his vehicle during the crash and was laying in a nearby ditch when the scout provided him first aid and attempted to stabilize him. The 15-year-old then comforted him until the driver passed away. Two of the group’s leaders were injured during the derailment and were subsequently transported to the hospital for medical attention. Their injuries included broken bones, broken ribs and a punctured lung. One of the boys was also injured and may be staying overnight at a hospital. The extent of his injuries was not immediately known.
In total, the two Boy Scout troops (Troop 73 and Troop 12) consisted of 16 boys (ages 13 to 17) and eight leaders. They were on their home to Appleton, Wisconsin following an intense week-long backpacking trip in New Mexico. At least three people were killed and 50 people were injured when the train derailed, officials said. The deceased included two people aboard the train and the dump truck driver.
Multiple victims were airlifted to hospitals via helicopter or transported via ambulances by local first responders.
The Amtrak Southwest Chief train was carrying 243 passengers and 12 crew members at the time of the wreck, Amtrak officials said. The incident happened a day after another Amtrak train, carrying 80 people, hit a car in Northern California. At least three people were killed, officials said.