An Amtrak train crash in South Carolina on Sunday morning killed two people and injured over 100 others. The crash also resulted in “thousands of gallons of fuel” being spilled. The crash occurred when a train traveling from New York to Miami collided with a freight train. The train carrying the passengers is said to have been on the wrong rail.
The two people who died in the accident were both Amtrak employees, South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster said. Officials said that most of those who were injured should be treated and released from area hospitals quickly, but that some had to undergo further evaluations.
Officials said that a hazardous material team was called to the site of the crash to clean up the leaked fuel. According to the New York Times, over 5,000 gallons of fuel was spilled as a result of the crash. Officials said they were able to secure both leaks from the trains and there was no threat to the public.
This is the second major Amtrak crash in the past week. Last Wednesday, a train carrying members of the GOP collided with a garbage truck, resulting in the death of the truck driver. Amtrak trains have also been in several other high-profile crashes over the past several years, which have resulted in numerous deaths and injuries. After a deadly crash last year in Pennsylvania, Amtrak said they must “assess how [they] can do better.”
Local News
Cranston’s former police chief, Marco Palumbo, was sentenced to one year of probation Monday as a result of a domestic violence case regarding his wife. Palumbo pleaded no contest to a case of simple assault and battery. He was ordered to have no contact with his wife or daughter for one year.
The Gordon School, as well as East Providence Police, are investigating molestation claims against a former teacher who was employed at the school during the 1970s. The school, located in East Providence, stated that several students raised “disturbing allegations” against the former teacher, which include “numerous incidents of inappropriate touching and digital rape that occurred on campus,” as well as two “allegations of rape that occurred off campus.” The teacher, who has not been publicly named, is said to have denied the claims.
Rhode Island State Troopers reported a “relatively quiet night” following the Super Bowl on Sunday. State Troopers arrested two people for DWI and responded to six car crashes, none of which resulted in any injuries. They also were monitoring the URI campus but did not report any incidents.
National News
The Philadelphia Eagles defeated the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl on Sunday, 41 to 33. The Eagles scored the go-ahead touchdown right before the two-minute warning in the fourth quarter. The Patriots had a chance to retake the lead, but pressure on quarterback Tom Brady led to a fumble that was recovered by the Eagles. Philly then followed up with a field goal to make it an eight-point game with just over a minute left. The Patriots got the ball back but failed to score. This is the Eagles’ first Super Bowl victory in the team’s franchise history. Eagles backup quarterback Nick Foles, who was playing in the place of injured starter Carson Wentz, was named MVP. Riots erupted in Philadelphia as fans took to the streets to celebrate the victory.
A police deputy was killed and three other officers were wounded in a shooting in Colorado Springs, Colorado on Monday. Deputy Micah Flick, on his 11 year anniversary with the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office, was investigating a motor vehicle theft when he was shot and killed. One of the injured officers was reported to be in stable condition, and the other two who were injured were in unclear condition as of Monday night. The suspect died at the scene of the shooting. Flick is the third sheriff’s deputy to be killed in the line of duty in Colorado since New Year’s Eve.
Larry Nassar, the disgraced former USA Gymnastics team doctor, found guilty of child molestation, was lunged at during his sentencing by a father of three of victims. The father, Randall Margraves, was stopped by guards before he reached Nassar. The judge had him detained on contempt of court, but said that there was “no way” she would punish him for his actions, accepting Margraves’ explanation that he had “lost control” of his emotions.
International News
A Russian jet was shot down in Syria by the jihadist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which formerly had ties to al-Qaeda. The pilot survived the crash by ejecting from the plane, but he was killed in a ground fight after. According to BBC News, there have been “dozens of Russian airstrikes in the area over the previous 24 hours.” The Russian defense ministry said they are “making all possible efforts” to retrieve the pilot’s body.
A 6.4 magnitude earthquake struck Taiwan Tuesday morning. Two people have been confirmed dead and over 150 people were injured. Rescue crews had helped 28 people out of collapsed buildings as of Tuesday afternoon, and were still attempting to rescue more people who were trapped in various locations.