Mendon community member describes the train derailment as a nightmare

MENDON, Mo. (KMIZ.)

State troopers have been at the scene directing traffic all morning following the train derailment in Mendon.

And on Tuesday, Mendon community members shared their experiences.

"I had goosebumps, and it made me feel like I wanted to start crying, and there's a lot of people around here that felt that same way," said Bambi Sportman, an employee at Cooney's General Store.

It happened shortly after 1 p.m. Monday, an Amtrak train carrying 275 passengers and 12 crew members struck a dump truck and derailed near Mendon.

Four people died and over 150 were injured.

Some people in the community describe the event as "unreal" like Sportsman.

"It's like a dream, I guess not a dream but a nightmare", said Sportsman.

Sportsman says she was at home when the train crashed but says her daughter was at the scene and witnessed injured passengers trying to get to safety.

"My daughter, she was over there helping and said that she seen a lady with no nose and somebody else some guy with nails in them and they were helping get people off the bus," said Mendon.

ABC 17, also spoke with crews on the scene who say they are unsure of how long it will take to reopen the road where the crash happened.