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Investigators Search for Clues in Amtrak Derailment in Florida

Aired April 19, 2002 - 13:14   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Investigators in Central Florida are sifting through twisted rails and overturned cars, searching for clues in the deadly Amtrak derailment. Four people were killed, more than 150 others hurt when the Virginia-bound train jumped the tracks yesterday about an hour after it left the Orlando area. Investigators will be talking to the engineer, who apparently hit the brakes for an emergency stop just before the derailment, and taking a closer look at another train that went over the tracks shortly before the derailment.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE BLACK, NTSB BOARD MEMBER: About four trains had passed over this site in the previous three or so hours -- successfully, obviously. We are looking at one of the coal trains -- there was a coal unit train that went over immediately before the accident -- well, not immediately, shortly before the accident. And we are looking at that train, inspecting the wheels primarily to see if there's any indication on those abnormal wear or anything that might indicate some sort of a track condition.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Those who survived the derailment are looking for ways to get home today, while dozens of injured passengers remain in Florida hospitals. Several people were flown by helicopter to Shands Hospital at the University of Florida in Gainesville. And that's where CNN's Charles Molineaux joins us now -- Charles.

CHARLES MOLINEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Fredricka.

Yeah, you may be starting to guess that perhaps that engineer actually kept this accident from being a lot worse. Obviously it's very early in the investigation. But some doctors here at Shands really think it could have been a lot worse. In fact, they thought that it was as they were rushing to the scene.

We still do have four people here at Shands Hospital, including one 73-year-old woman who is in critical condition. Now, of all the people that were hurt in the accident, 33 were -- did actually end up being admitted to hospitals. A triage center was set up at Crescent City high school, and the seriously injured were airlifted to Jacksonville, Daytona and here to Shands in Gainesville. There were 468 people on that train, and one big challenge for the emergency room doctors and emergency crews at the scene is that a lot of those people are what in Florida are known as snow birds.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. BRUCE GOLDFEDER, DIR., EMERGENCY MEDICINE: The elderly always have inherent risks. And the train was coming from South Florida, and it was mostly elderly people enjoying their winter down in Florida. So as a result of that, the elderly, just inherent by their age, tend to be fragile. So, bleeding risks, muscular/skeletal problems, heart problems are much more significant and very concerning.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MOLINEAUX: Now, the doctors are not saying anybody is necessarily out of danger right now, but the fact that they have managed to get through the first few crucial hours after the accident and be gotten to medical care and gotten into the hospital, it means that their odds are looking pretty good for most of them at this point.

And of course, the investigation does continue -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right, thanks very much, Charles Molineaux, for that report.

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