Five injured in US train crash

30/11/2007 - 19:58:53
A passenger train ploughed into the back of a freight train in Chicago tonight, seriously injuring five people.

The crash happened on the south side of the city, injuring rail employees. Most of the 150 passengers walked away unharmed.

Passengers, many of them carrying winter coats and luggage, streamed off the train with the help of rescue workers. Some held the hands of small children.

Coert Vanderhill, 60, of Michigan, said the train was approaching the station at about 15 to 20mph when the engine "just ran right up the tail end" of the freight train.

"Everybody just hit the seat in front of them," he said.

Fifteen ambulances and a fire-suppression unit were at the scene tending to passengers, officials said.