(The following press release was circulated by the NTSB.)
WASHINGTON — As part of its continuing investigation into the derailment of an Amtrak Auto Train near Crescent City, Florida, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will open a public docket and release a series of factual reports at 11:00 a.m., on February 13, 2003.
About 5:08 p. m. on April 18, 2002, northbound National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) train PO52-18, Auto Train, derailed 21 of 40 cars on the CSXT Railroad near Crescent City, Florida. The train derailed in a 3-degree left-hand curve while traveling about 56 mph. The train was carrying 414 passengers and 33 Amtrak employees. The derailment resulted in 4 fatalities, 36 serious injuries, and 105 minor injuries. There was no fire as a result of the derailment.
The reports to be released are factual in nature and do not provide any analysis. They will include investigative reports in the following areas – survival factors, operations, track and engineering and metallurgy.
Additional reports will be added to the public docket as they become available. Analysis of the accident, along with conclusions and a determination of probable cause, will come at a later date at a public meeting at NTSB headquarters.