JOPLIN, Mont. – The identities of all three victims killed Saturday in the derailment of a westbound Amtrak train near Joplin, Montana, have been identified by local authorities.
The victims include 72-year-old Marjorie Varnadoe and 74-year-old Donald Varnadoe, a retired Georgia couple; and Zach Schneider, 29, of Fairview, Illinois, who was vacationing with his wife, The Washington Post reported.
The Empire Builder, which runs between Chicago and Seattle-Portland, derailed near the Canadian border at around 4 p.m. local time Saturday, killing three of the 141 passengers and leaving seven hospitalized and dozens of others injured. There were also 17 crew members onboard the train.
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The National Transportation Safety Board assumed control late Saturday of the investigation into what caused eight of the train’s 10 cars to leave the tracks.
According to The Brunswick News, Donald Varnadoe was a retired real estate agent from St. Simons Island, Georgia, and Marjorie Varnadoe had been a revered teacher and school administrator in their community.
Meanwhile, a GoFundMe page established to help cover funeral expenses for Schneider confirmed that he and his wife were en route to Portland for a vacation when the train derailed.
“Zach Schneider is one the sweetest, smartest, and most unique people I know,” the online fundraiser’s organizer, Caleb Morris, wrote.
“I have always respected his ability to think differently. Zach always used this to push for a better world where everyone was included,” Morris added.
Liberty County Sheriff Nick Erickson estimated that as many as 30 people were injured during the derailment but confirmed that only five remained hospitalized, all of whom were listed in stable condition, by Sunday.
Although no cause for the derailment has been determined, rail safety experts told the Post that numerous factors could have contributed to the crash, including “human error and track and equipment failure, which is more common on older equipment such as the Superliner fleet operating in the route, the oldest in Amtrak’s rolling stock.”
A person carries survey equipment as he walks Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, near an Amtrak train that derailed Saturday just west of Joplin, Mont. The westbound Empire Builder was en route to Seattle from Chicago, with two locomotives and 10 cars. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
A person uses survey equipment, Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, near an Amtrak train that derailed Saturday just west of Joplin, Mont. The westbound Empire Builder was en route to Seattle from Chicago, with two locomotives and 10 cars. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Workers examine a section of railroad track, Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, next to cars from an Amtrak train that derailed the day before just west of Joplin, Mont., killing three people and injuring others. The westbound Empire Builder was en route to Seattle from Chicago, with two locomotives and 10 cars. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Heavy equipment moves gravel Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, next to cars from an Amtrak train that derailed the day before just west of Joplin, Mont., killing three people and injuring others. The westbound Empire Builder was en route to Seattle from Chicago, with two locomotives and 10 cars. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
A worker peers under an Amtrak train engine, Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, that was part of a train that derailed Saturday just west of Joplin, Mont. The westbound Empire Builder was en route to Seattle from Chicago, with two locomotives and 10 cars. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Workers walk Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, next to cars from an Amtrak train that derailed Saturday just west of Joplin, Mont. The westbound Empire Builder was en route to Seattle from Chicago, with two locomotives and 10 cars. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Amtrak train cars are shown, Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, that were part of a train that derailed Saturday just west of Joplin, Mont., killing three people and injuring others. The westbound Empire Builder was en route to Seattle from Chicago, with two locomotives and 10 cars. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Engines and cars from an Amtrak train that derailed a day earlier are shown Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, at the derailment site just west of Joplin, Mont.. The crash killed three people and injured others. The westbound Empire Builder was en route to Seattle from Chicago, with two locomotives and 10 cars. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
A worker walks near an Amtrak train engine, Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, that was part of a train that derailed Saturday just west of Joplin, Mont., killing three people and injuring others. The westbound Empire Builder was en route to Seattle from Chicago, with two locomotives and 10 cars. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
A worker peers under an Amtrak train engine, Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, that was part of a train that derailed Saturday just west of Joplin, Mont. The westbound Empire Builder was en route to Seattle from Chicago, with two locomotives and 10 cars. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
The Empire Builder derailed in north-central Montana.
People inspect the damage on the Empire Builder after it derailed in Montana.
The Empire Builder is on its side after derailing near Joplin, Montana.
People assess the damage on Amtrak’s Empire Builder, which derailed in Montana.
