Illinois Man 1 Of 3 People Killed In Amtrak Derailment: Family

Chicago IL

27 September, 2021

10:30 AM

Description

CHICAGO — One of three people killed in a weekend Amtrak derailment in Montana has been identified as an Illinois man, family members said, according to ABC Chicago. Zach Schneider, 28, was from Fairview Heights, ABC reported. He and his wife were on the train headed to Portland, Oregon when it derailed near Joplin, Montana Saturday at around 4 p.m., according to a GoFundMe launched for the family. The Empire Builder train had left Chicago bound for Seattle. An Amtrak spokesperson said the train was carrying 141 passengers and 16 crew members when eight of the train's cars tipped over. Officials told Patch they are investigating the cause of the crash. Schneider was identified on GoFundMe page set up to raise money for his funeral. The other two people killed have not yet been identified. More than $16,000 had been raised by Sunday night. "[Schneider] is one of the sweetest, smartest and most unique people I know," wrote Caleb Morris, the fundraiser's organizer. "Zach always used this to push for a better world where everyone was included." A LinkedIn page apparently belonging to Schneider also listed him a resident of Fairview Heights, not far from St. Louis. The page said Schneider was working as a senior software engineer.