Did you know that almost every three hours, the U.S. experiences a railroad accident or crash?
This surprising statistic comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
We don’t always get word about every railroad accident, but we do hear about the worst. Listed below are the five deadliest railroad accidents in recent American history.
5. Silver Springs, MD Commuter Rail Crash
On February 16, 1996, the distracted driver of a Maryland Rail Commuter train missed a stop at Georgetown Junction and crashed into a Chicago-bound Amtrak passenger train. The accident killed 11 people and injured 26.
4. Bourbonnais, IL Train Collision
Trying to beat a train at a crossing is never a good idea. That’s what the National Transportation Safety Board investigation found as the reason for the tragic train accident that occurred on March 15, 1999.
A semi-trailer truck attempted to beat a train at a crossing and ended up causing a deadly accident that claimed the lives of 11 and injured about 100 passengers.
3. Glendale, CA Metrolink Passenger Train Accident
On January 25, 2005, a passenger train accident claimed the lives of 11 and injured around 180 when a Metrolink passenger train smashed into an unoccupied SUV. This sent the train slamming into a parked freight train.
2. Chatsworth, CA Metrolink Passenger Train Wreck
There are rules against texting and driving for a reason. On September 12, 2008, one of the worst accidents happened due to a driver neglecting this rule.
A Metrolink passenger train engineer was texting while operating the train and missed a stop signal. The train ended up hitting a Union Pacific freight train. Twenty-five passengers were killed and over 135 were injured.
1. Mobile, AL Amtrak Crash
On September 22, 1993, an Amtrak train tried traversing a bent railroad bridge, but was instead derailed and thrown into the water below. Wondering why the bridge was bent? It was reported someone operating a towboat tried to make a prohibited turn and smashed into the bridge. The accident killed 47 and injured 103.
