PHOTOS: Amtrak train derails in Vermont

ROXBURY, Vt. (MyFoxBoston.com/AP) — An Amtrak train headed from Vermont to Washington, D.C., derailed in central Vermont on Monday after apparently striking rocks that were on the tracks. No life-threatening injuries were reported.

The passenger train was headed south when it struck a rockslide and derailed in the town of Northfield at 10:30 a.m, according to Vermont State Police.

Police said seven people were taken to area hospitals with injuries, six of those by ambulance to Central Vermont Medical Center and one to Dartmouth Medical Center by DHART helicopter. The patients' conditions are unknown.

Passenger Mark Pisa said, "Once we crashed into the side of the mountain I basically got up. I looked at everybody, made sure everybody was okay and then I started taking the emergency windows down."

Pisa then began helping passengers from the train.

"I was like, let's get out of this train. No sense in standing here. And then finally once everybody was off, I looked down, I seen a car down the brook," he said.

He went to see if anyone was inside, and sure enough the conductor was. Pisa was unsure if help was nearby and says he jumped into action. He says he threw him over his back and got to safety.

Another passenger Richard Drayton said, "I can't say anything except it could've been a lot worse and the engineer did a great job and the emergency people were incredible."

The 13-hour, 45-minute daily trip began in St. Albans in northern Vermont. The route passes through cities including Burlington, Vermont, Springfield, Massachusetts, and New York, with D.C. as the final destination.

Amtrak said in a statement that the train "reportedly" struck a rock slide on the tracks.

Judy Tartaglia, CEO of Central Vermont Medical Center, said the people that were transported to the emergency room suffered minor injuries including neck, back and shoulder pain, lightheadedness and a wrist injury. She said she doesn't expect any more patients.

At least several dozen passengers were loaded onto school buses to be taken to an armory at nearby Norwich University.

Matthew Lehner, a spokesman for the Federal Railroad Administration, said it was aware of the derailment and had sent investigators to the scene.

Vermont State Police and local fire and rescue agencies responded to the derailment, and numerous emergency vehicles were at the site.

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Cox Media Group