Several hurt as train derails in Nebraska

An Amtrak train carrying an estimated 178 passengers struck a crane in southwest Nebraska on Friday, partially derailing and sending nearly a dozen people to local hospitals, authorities said.There were no reports of life-threatening injuries from the collision, which occurred at about 8:50am local time near Benkelman, Nebraska, derailing two locomotives and three cars, an Amtrak spokesman said. Seven cars stayed on the tracks.Seven people were being treated at Dundy County Hospital in Benkelman, spokeswoman Sandy Noffsinger said, describing them as reporting neck and back injuries. Four other people with lesser injuries were sent to other facilities, she said.Noffsinger said none of the injuries appeared to be life-threatening, though it was possible some of the patients could remain at the hospital for observation.The train struck a crane that was razing an old grain elevator adjacent to the tracks in an unincorporated area west of Benkelman, a county official said.