Amtrak engineer nearly impaled by tree in Silvana during bomb cyclone

Published 9:15 am Friday, November 22, 2024

Part of a fallen tree came through an Amtrak train Tuesday night. (Photo provided by the state Department of Transportation)
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Part of a fallen tree came through an Amtrak train Tuesday night. (Photo provided by the state Department of Transportation)
Part of a fallen tree came through an Amtrak train Tuesday night. (Photo provided by the state Department of Transportation)

By Helena Wegner / McClatchy News

An Amtrak engineer was nearly impaled after a train struck a fallen tree as a powerful storm hit Washington, the railroad company said.

The incident happened at about 7:50 p.m. Tuesday in Silvana, a spokesperson for Amtrak said in a release.

The Amtrak Cascades train was carrying 48 passengers from Vancouver, British Columbia, to Seattle when it hit a fallen tree on the tracks, the company said.

The tree pierced the windshield, narrowly missing the engineer controlling the cart, a photo shows.

Although no one was injured, the engineer was still taken to a hospital for an evaluation before being released, the company said.

Passengers were given other transportation.