Chester Officials Speak Out About Deadly Amtrak Crash
CHESTER, Pa. (CBS) -- The city of Chester's fire and police were the first on the scene of the Amtrak Train 89 crash on Sunday that claimed the lives to two people working on the tracks early that morning. On Monday, Chester officials held a press conference on the next steps.
"I want to applaud them for their courage," said Mayor Thaddeus Kirkland
Kirkland joined Chester city officials to commend first responders for their part in managing the aftermath of the Amtrak crash. Chester fire and police received the call shortly before 8 a.m. Sunday. They transported the deceased, triaged the 341 passengers and seven crew members aboard the eight-car passenger train; taking the 37 injured to local hospitals and moving the uninjured to a nearby church.
The mayor called the crash a "tragic loss of life," expressing condolences to the families of the two Amtrak workers who died, but said he hopes more improvements can be made.
"Hopefully, at the end of the day, we would have all learned something to make our railways safer," Kirkland said.
Mayor Kirkland said his administration is continuing to provide support to both Amtrak and the National Transportation Safety Board.