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Emeryville-To-Chicago Amtrak Train Derails In Nebraska

BENKELMAN, Neb. (CBS/AP) -- At least seven people were taken to a hospital after an Amtrak train headed from the Bay Area to Chicago and carrying about 175 passengers hit a vehicle and derailed in southwest Nebraska, authorities said.

An Amtrak spokesman said the California Zephyr train from Emeryville ran into some equipment on the tracks and derailed around 8 a.m. near Benkelman, not far from the state's borders with Kansas and Colorado.

Two locomotives and the first three of 10 passenger cars left the tracks. Some of the cars tipped onto their sides but there was no fire.

Amtrak spokesman Mark Magliari said he could not confirm the exact number of injuries but said none were believed to be life-threatening.

Dundy County Hospital spokeswoman Sandy Noffsinger said seven patients were being treated there. She confirmed none of those injuries were considered to be life-threatening.

(Copyright 2011 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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