More Questions Than Answers in Amtrak Crash
There are still more questions than answers about why an Amtrak train was traveling at more than twice the speed limit when it crashed this week.
Federal investigators at the National Transportation Safety Board now want to know why it sped up in the last minute before it jumped the tracks in Philadelphia.
They say just 65 seconds before the crash, it sped up from 70 mph until it reached more than 100 mph at a sharp bend.
By 16 seconds before the crash, the train had increased to 100 mph, soon reaching 106 mph. The maximum speed at that section is supposed to be 50 mph.
Lead NTSB investigator Robert Sumwalt said it's unclear if speed was increased by the engineer or a malfunction.
The accident killed at least eight people and injured more than 200 others.
Amtrak CEO and President Joseph Boardman said in a letter on Amtrak's official blog that it's cooperating fully in an investigation.
"With truly heavy hearts, we mourn those who died. Their loss leaves holes in the lives of their families and communities," Boardman said. "Amtrak takes full responsibility and deeply apologizes for our role in this tragic event."
