Number injured in Amtrak crash rises to 150. These hospitals are treating patients
Update: The Missouri State Highway Patrol announced Tuesday that about 150 injured people had been taken to 10 hospitals across the region after the train crash. Read more details here.
Since Monday afternoon, the number of patients at University Hospital in Columbia who were injured in a mass-casualty Amtrak train crash in mid-Missouri rose from nine to 17.
Several of those patients were transported by helicopter, University of Missouri Health Care spokesman Eric Maze said. As of Tuesday morning, some patients had been discharged, though an exact count was not available.
The total number of people injured is not yet known, but as of 11 a.m. Tuesday, The Star confirmed Missouri hospitals had seen at least 77 patients, not counting known transfers between medical centers.
At least 200 people were on the train traveling from Los Angeles to Chicago when it derailed Monday near Mendon, Missouri, a town about 100 miles northeast of Kansas City, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Three people were killed.
The injured were transported by ambulance and helicopter to hospitals around the state, including in Columbia and Kansas City.
Pershing Memorial Hospital in Brookfield, about 15 miles north of the crash site, initially took in 17 patients, said Karla Clubine, CEO of the Pershing Health System.
Six of the patients were transferred, including three to University Hospital in Columbia, two to Northeast Regional Hospital in Kirksville and one to Children’s Mercy in Kansas City, Clubine said Tuesday morning. The rest have since been discharged.
Boone Hospital Center in Columbia has so far received the most known patients, with 28, according to spokesman Ben Cornelius, who said most had “more minor” injuries. All the patients at Boone Hospital Center were treated and released Monday night, he said.
Live updates: NTSB investigates Missouri Amtrak crash; locals say they warned of danger
Northeast Regional Medical Center in Kirksville treated four patients, said Laura Gruber Harden, with the hospital. Two have since been discharged.
Since Monday afternoon, Fitzgibbon Hospital in Marshall, about 35 miles south of the crash site, received two additional patients, bringing its total to eight, Marketing Director Amy Weber said. All but three had been discharged by Tuesday morning, Weber said.
Hedrick Medical Center in Chillicothe, about 45 miles west of the crash site, received six patients by ambulance, spokeswoman Lindsey Stitch said Tuesday. A seventh person, as originally reported, was not ultimately admitted.
Three patients were discharged by Tuesday morning, Stitch said. Three others were transferred late Monday to St. Luke’s in Kansas City, St. Luke’s East in Lee’s Summit and to Children’s Mercy in Kansas City. One of the transferred patients was in serious condition, she said.
One patient was transported by helicopter to University Health in Kansas City Monday, according to spokesman Keith King. He didn’t know about the patient’s condition but said in a statement the downtown facility “is a federally designated Level 1 Trauma Center equipped to handle severe injuries.” He could not immediately be reached for an update Tuesday morning.
Did you have loved ones traveling on Amtrak today? Call this number for crash updates
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
The Star’s Andrea Klick contributed reporting.
