Looking Back

One of the most traumatic stories of 2018 occurred about 2:35 am Sunday, Feb. 4.

Lexington County emergency officials were on the scene of a train collision and derailment near Charleston Highway and Pine Ridge Road in Cayce.

2 passengers were killed, according to Lexington County Coroner Margaret Fisher, when the Amtrak passenger train collided with a CSX freight train.

Killed were Michael Kempf, 54, of Savannah, GA, the Amtrak train’s engineer, and Michael Cella, 36, of Orange Park, FL, the conductor.

President Donald Trump offered condolences to the families via social media.

About 50 people were taken from the scene with injuries, according to the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department.

The Amtrak train was No. 91, traveling between New York and Miami. The Amtrak train’s lead engine derailed, as did some passenger cars, an Amtrak statement said.

The passenger train had 8 crew members and about 139 passengers.