Three people, two men and one woman, died Tuesday when a train collided with a charter bus at Main St. in Biloxi. Witnesses said the bus appeared stuck on the tracks and the eastbound train hit the bus broadside.
In addition to the three fatalities, 35 people were taken to area hospitals. Several had to be airlifted from the scene. Around 50 passengers were on the bus when the crash happened, and we're told seven of them were able to walk away.
Officials previously reported four people died, but around 6 p.m. they revised that number to three confirmed fatalities.
Biloxi Police Chief John Miller said it is unclear at this time why the bus was stopped on the tracks. He said the bus, operated by Echo Transportation, was out of Austin, TX.
Ameet Patel, Senior Vice President of Regional Operations for Penn National Gaming, owner of Hollywood Gulf Coast Casino and Boomtown Biloxi Casino, said the bus was traveling from Hollywood Casino in Bay St. Louis to Boomtown Casino in Biloxi.
It is with deep regret and sympathy that we can confirm the private charter bus that collided with a train this afternoon in Biloxi was transporting patrons from our Hollywood Gulf Coast Casino in Bay St. Louis to our Boomtown Biloxi Casino approximately 45 miles away. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of those who tragically lost their lives and all those affected by this accident. As this is an ongoing law enforcement matter, we are withholding any further comment and are referring all calls to the Biloxi Police Department, with whom we are cooperating fully on their investigation.
Those involved in the crash that were not hospitalized will be lodged at Hollywood Casino Tuesday night.
The CSX train was headed east when it collided with a charter bus heading north. Emergency crews had to remove people through the emergency windows. Victims were taken to Merit Health Biloxi, Ocean Springs Hospital, and Singing River Hospital in Pascagoula.
Biloxi Mayor Andrew "FoFo" Gilich said the response by several agencies from Biloxi, Harrison County, Keesler Air Force Base, New Orleans, and Hattiesburg was admirable. Gilich asked the public to focus their thoughts and prayers on all of those involved.
CSX officials tell us all train traffic in the area has been stopped. Biloxi police said several intersections east of the crash scene are still blocked by the stopped train, but the bus has been removed from the tracks.
CSX is inspecting the train to make sure it is safe to roll. It is unclear how long it will be before those blocked crossings are cleared. Company spokesman Gary Sease issued this statement around 3:45 p.m.:
CSX personnel are working with first responders at a collision of a freight train and passenger bus in Biloxi, Miss. The collision this afternoon occurred at the Main Street crossing. The eastbound mixed freight train, traveling from New Orleans to Mobile, Ala., had three locomotives and 52 cars – 27 loaded cars and 25 empty cars. The crossing has flashing lights and crossing gates. Authorities in Biloxi report three fatalities and many injuries, and our thoughts are with all involved. The train crew was not injured.
Echo Transportation spokesman Jay Ferrari issued the following statement around 3:55 p.m.:
I can’t tell you anything more than what you probably already know. We’re mobilizing right now to investigate. Once we’re ready to make further comment, we will.
Accident reconstruction teams are now working to figure out exactly what happened. Biloxi police said it will be a long, involved investigation, and authorities are using video from nearby businesses to piece a timeline together.
This is not the first time there has been trouble at the Main St. railroad crossing. Two months ago, a CSX train slammed into a Pepsi delivery truck that got stuck on the tracks. There is a low clearance sign near the intersection to warn drivers.
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