One of three people killed when an Amtrak train derailed in Montana has been identified as a married engineer who was headed for a vacation with his wife.
Missouri engineer, Zach Schneider, 28, was on the Empire Builder with his wife Becca en route to Portland, Oregon, when it derailed near Joplin yesterday afternoon.
Zach, who was from St. Louis and worked for payments firm Stripe, was killed after several of the train cars left the tracks and toppled over onto their sides. He was identified by a GoFundMe page set up to raise money for his funeral.
Schneider's wife Becca, 26, was traveling with him but survived. She has since posted photos of herself with her late spouse on Facebook, but has not commented.
Family friend Caleb Morris, who created the page, paid tribute to Schneider by saying he was one of the 'sweetest, smartest, and most unique people I know.'
Zach Schneider is pictured in photos from his Facebook page. Zach was killed on September 25 2021, when an Amtrak train derailed in Montana, on his way to Portland
'Zach always used this to push for a better world where everyone was included. I have always respected his ability to think differently. Thankful to have been blessed by knowing you, Zach,' wrote Morris in a heartfelt plea for donations.
The other two victims killed have not been identified, with seven other passengers badly injured by the derailment still being treated in hospital.
Amtrak CEO Bill Flynn said Sunday his firm was distraught over the derailment, whose cause has not yet been identified.
'We are in mourning for the people who lost their lives due to the derailment of the Empire Builder train Saturday, near Joplin, Montana, on the BNSF Railway, as well as the many others who were injured,' Amtrak's Bill Flynn said.
'We have no words that can adequately express our sorrow for those who lost a loved one or who were hurt in this horrible event. They are in our thoughts and prayers.'
Zach Schneider, 28, and his wife Becca, 26, were both onboard the train at the time
Three people are dead and more than 50 are injured after an Amtrak train carrying 147 passengers and 13 crew derailed in Montana on Saturday afternoon
This aerial view taken on Sunday shows part of an Amtrak train that derailed in north-central Montana Saturday that killed multiple people and left others hospitalized, officials said
The westbound Empire Builder was en route to Seattle from Chicago, with two locomotives and 10 cars, when it left the tracks about 4pm on Saturday
Amtrak's Empire Builder derailed near Joplin, Montana around 4pm MST
A GoFundMe page has been set up by a friend of the family for Zach Schneider's funeral expenses
Zach Schneider is pictured with wife Becca Schneider in photos from her Instagram page. The couple had been married since 2016
Crews appear to be using ladders to get on top of the cars in a rescue effort on Saturday
It is suspected that the train derailed near the switch at East Buelow. The cause of the derailment is not clear. Pictured: People use ladders to climb up the side of train cars to help trapped passengers escape
In the statement, Flynn said the company was cooperating with the investigation. He added they are working with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the Federal Railroad Administration, local law enforcement and response agencies.
'Amtrak's immediate and sustained focus is on doing everything we can to help our passengers and crew, especially the families of those who were injured or died, at this painful and difficult time,' Flynn added.
He said the company's incident response team has been initiated. Amtrak has sent emergency personnel and company leadership to help support passengers, employees and their families.
The westbound Empire Builder was traveling to Seattle from Chicago when it left the tracks at about 4pm on Saturday near the small town of Joplin. The tracks cut through vast, golden brown wheat fields that were recently harvested.
Several large cranes were brought to the tracks that run roughly parallel to U.S. Highway 2, along with a truckload of gravel and new railroad ties.
Several rail cars could still be seen on their sides.
The train was carrying about 141 passengers and 16 crew members and had two locomotives and 10 cars, eight of which derailed, Amtrak spokesman Jason Abrams said.
Passengers are pictured beside derailed cars on the track near Joplin, Montana. One passenger said she heard a boom and felt the carriage 'pitching violently side-to-side'
At least three cars derailed and two separated from the train
The last train car was completely on its side from the derailment
A 14-member National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) team including investigators and specialists in railroad signals were looking into the cause of the derailment on a BNSF Railway main track that involved no other trains or equipment, board spokesman Eric Weiss said.
The accident scene is about 30 miles from the Canadian border.
Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte said BNSF was readying replacement track for when the NTSB gives the go-head. 'BNSF has assured me they can get the line up and running in short order,' he said.
Railroad safety expert David Clarke, director of the Center for Transportation Research at the University of Tennessee, said accident scene photos show the derailment occurred at or near a switch, which is where the railway goes from a single track to a double track.
Clarke said the two locomotives and two cars at the front of the train reached the split and continued on the main track, but the remaining eight cars derailed. He said it was unclear if some of the last cars moved onto the second track.
'Did the switch play some role? It might have been that the front of the train hit the switch and it started fish-tailing and that flipped the back part of the train,' Clarke said.
Another possibility was a defect in the rail, Clarke said, noting that regular testing doesn't always catch such problems. He said speed was not a likely factor because trains on that line have systems that prevent excessive speeds and collisions.
Matt Jones, a BNSF Railway spokesman said at a news conference that the track where the accident occurred was last inspected Thursday.
Most of the people on the train were treated and released for their injuries, but seven people who were more seriously hurt remained at the Benefis Health System hospital in Great Falls, Montana, according to Sarah Robbin, Liberty County emergency services co-ordinator.
Another two people were at Logan Health, a hospital in Kalispell, Montana, spokeswoman Melody Sharpton said.
Robbin said emergency crews struggled without success to cut open cars with special tools, 'so they did have to manually carry out many of the passengers that could not walk.'
Robbin said nearby residents rushed to offer help when the derailment occurred.
'We are so fortunate to live where we do, where neighbors help neighbors,' she said.
'The locals have been so amazing and accommodating,' passenger Jacob Cordeiro said on Twitter. 'They provided us with food, drinks, and wonderful hospitality. Nothing like it when the best comes together after a tragedy.'
Cordeiro, who is from Rhode Island, just graduated from college and was traveling with his father to Seattle to celebrate.
