Amtrak train collides with truck in North Carolina

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Monday, March 9, 2015
Amtrak train slams into truck in North Carolina
The first two cars of an Amtrak train derailed after colliding with a tractor-trailer in North Carolina.

HALIFAX, N.C. -- An Amtrak train collided with a tractor-trailer truck on the tracks at NC-903 and US-301 in North Carolina on Monday.

Halifax County Sheriff's Chief Deputy Bruce Temple said the accident happened around noon in the town of Halifax.

Temple says the first two cars of the train derailed after the collision. The North Carolina Department of Transportation says in a news release that one of those cars was a baggage car.

Several people were hurt, though the transportation agency says the injuries were minor. The agency also says no deaths were reported.

PHOTOS: Amtrak crash in North Carolina

"We are relieved that there are no fatalities reported at this time, and our thoughts and prayers are with those who were injured," said North Carolina Transportation Secretary Tony Tata.

The cab of the truck was intact, but the low-boy trailer carrying some kind of large load covered in a large blue tarp was obliterated by the force of the impact.

An ABC11 Eyewitness viewer posted video of the impact on Twitter.

VIDEO: Witness catches Amtrak collision on camera

The train - the #80 Carolinian - was headed north from Raleigh with an eventual destination of New York with stops in major cities like Philadelphia.

Unhurt passengers were being loaded onto waiting buses.

The cause of the crash was under investigation.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.