Amtrak train derails in Vermont; No life-threatening injuries reported

VERMONT (WABC) -- An Amtrak train headed from Vermont to Washington, D.C., derailed in central Vermont on Monday after apparently striking rocks that were on the tracks. Seven people were hurt, but amazingly, there were no life-threatening injuries reported.

Amtrak confirmed Monday that the Vermonter train carrying 98 passengers and four crew had derailed around 10:30 a.m. According to the Amtrak website, the 13-hour, 45-minute daily trip begins in St. Albans in northern Vermont. The train is supposed to pass through Burlington, Vermont, Springfield, Massachusetts, and New York before arriving in D.C.

Vermont State Police and local fire and rescue agencies responded to the scene in Northfield, about 10 miles southwest of Montpelier.

See photos of the train derailment here:

The Montpelier Fire Department confirms that five cars, all occupied, were involved, and three of them went over a steep embankment. At least seven passengers were transported to the hospital, including one who was airlifted.

Amtrak officials say the train appears to have hit a rockslide, which caused the derailment.

At least several dozen passengers were loaded onto school buses to be taken to an armory at nearby Norwich University. Most passengers declined to be hospitalized.

Authorities say that there is no reason at this time to believe there was any negligence and that the state-of-the-art track was recently rebuilt.

"This was a freak of nature," Gov. Peter Shumlin said.

One of the injured was airlifted to Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in New Hampshire and was being evaluated in the emergency room, spokesman Rick Adams said. Six others went to Central Vermont Medical Center with injuries including neck, back and shoulder pain and lightheadedness.

State officials said a freight train had passed over the same tracks Sunday night with no problems.

Bob Redmond, of Bay City, Michigan, was taking a foliage tour and sitting in the front row of the third car when the train derailed. He looked outside the window and saw the car that had been ahead of his was now alongside him.

"It was just going the other way, and we started tipping sideways and down we went," he said. "We were fortunate when you see what happened. It could've been a whole lot worse, that's for sure.

Tracy Zaplitny, also of Bay City, said she and other passengers broke a window to get out of the train.

"It's a huge wreck up there," she said.

Passengers helped others after the crash. Redmond said since he was in the front row, he got off the train first, and he and others started helping people off the train.

Investigators for the Federal Railroad Administration were on the scene.

Vermont State Police and local fire and rescue agencies responded to the derailment, and numerous emergency vehicles were at the site.