Community Corner
Elk Grove Man Among Injured in Friday's Amtrak Crash
The United Transportation Union said Richard D'Alessandro, 49, was an assistant conductor on the train that collided with a big rig, killing at least six.
An Elk Grove man was among those injured in a fiery Amtrak train crash in Nevada Friday.
Elk Grove resident Richard D’Alessandro, 49, was identified by United Transportation Union officials as an assistant conductor on the westbound California Zephyr that went up in flames after a tractor-trailer rig plowed into it at a rail crossing.
Family members told KCRA D'Alessandro suffered moderate injuries, almost losing a finger, and was hoping to be released from a Reno-area hospital in the next few days.
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At least six people were killed in the crash, including the truck driver, and dozens were injured.
While transportation officials originally reported that up to 28 of the more than 200 people on the train were unaccounted for, that number fell to five by Sunday evening, according to Reuters. Some of the passengers were trapped in two burning passenger cars. The search for bodies was continuing, said officials.
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National Transportation Safety Board member Earl Weener told Reuters preliminary investigations indicate the signal and gates at the crossing were operating properly and visibility was “excellent” at the time of the crash.
