President Obama said he was “shocked and deeply saddened” to hear of the deadly derailment of Amtrak Train 188 Tuesday night.
The president also offered prayers to all the families and friends who lost loved ones, as well as the many passengers who are recovering.
“Along the Northeast Corridor, Amtrak is a way of life for many. From Washington, DC and Philadelphia to New York City and Boston, this is a tragedy that touches us all,” he said.
He praised the fire, police and medical personnel who worked throughout the night to save lives.
Vice President Joe Biden also weighed in with a statement of “profound sadness,” noting that Amtrak “is like a second family to me, as it is for so many passengers.”
“For my entire career, I’ve made the trip from Wilmington to Washington and back. I’ve come to know the conductors, engineers, and other regulars — men and women riding home to kiss their kids goodnight — as we passed the flickering lights of each neighborhood along the way,” he said.
“Our thoughts are with every person who is grieving right now from this terrible tragedy. As a nation, we pray for the victims and their families,” he added.
Amtrak’s Northeast Regional carrying 238 passengers derailed in Philadelphia Tuesday night, closing the nation’s busiest rail corridor. Investigators are still trying to determine the cause.
