January 1988: Amtrak crashes in Chester, 24 injured
The fatal Amtrak crash in Chester, Delaware County evokes an eerily similar Amtrak derailment nearly 30 years ago in almost the exact same spot.
In January 1988, a train hit a maintenance machine that was repairing the crushed rocks of the rail bed near the Highland Avenue Station in Chester.
VIDEO: Raw footage from 1988 Amtrak crash
Two engines and 10 passenger cars derailed.
24 people were hurt.
The NTSB determined that an Amtrak tower operator had failed to switch the train to an unoccupied track.
On Sunday morning, Amtrak officials say a train struck a backhoe that was on the tracks and the impact derailed the lead engine of the train.
Two people were killed and dozens were injured.
PHOTOS: Fatal Amtrak train derailment in Delaware County
The NTSB is investigating.
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The Associated Press contributed to this report.
