Freight train hits charter bus in deadly Mississippi crash

A freight train has collided with a packed charter bus in Mississippi, leaving an unknown number of passengers dead and injured, The Associated Press reported Tuesday.

A CSX train struck the bus at a railroad crossing in downtown Biloxi and dragged the vehicle about 300 feet down the tracks, according to the report.

A city spokesman said that passengers were killed and injured in the wreck, but was not able to specify how many. There were reportedly as many as 50 passengers on the charter bus.

{mosads}First responders were still working to remove people from the bus more than 30 minutes after the crash, which occurred shortly before 2:15 p.m.

The local hospital set up a triage unit near the accident to help treat injured passengers, according to the AP.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) tweeted that it is “gathering information about today’s accident involving a freight train and a bus in Biloxi, MS.”

NTSB is gathering information about today’s accident involving a freight train and a bus in Biloxi, MS.

— NTSB_Newsroom (@NTSB_Newsroom) March 7, 2017