6 injured as Amtrak train collides with truck hauling hay in rural Missouri
Amtrak suspended train service on its Missouri River Runner line and substituted buses after a train collided with a hay truck’s trailer Sunday evening, forcing the temporary closure of tracks in rural Cass County.
The eastbound train, en route from Kansas City to St. Louis, struck the trailer at a private crossing near Sherwood Road and Missouri 58, east of Pleasant Hill, around 5 p.m., according to a Missouri State Highway Patrol crash report.
Six train passengers suffered minor injuries but refused treatment, the highway patrol said.
“Due to equipment unavailability, Missouri River Runner Trains 311 and 316 are canceled, with bus transportation provided,” Amtrak said on X, formerly Twitter, early Monday. “We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience.”
A preliminary investigation showed that the 64-year-old driver of a 2013 Chevrolet Silverado was hauling large round bales of hay when he attempted to cross the tracks at a private rail crossing, according to Cpl. Justin Ewing, a spokesman for the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Troop A.
The crash left the truck heavily damaged and caused moderate damage to the train.
The tracks reopened about 8:45 p.m. Sunday night, Ewing said.
The Missouri River Runner links Kansas City and St. Louis, with several cities and towns along the route.
