NEW:169 passengers and four crew members were on the southbound train , Amtrak says . `` A big rig and an Amtrak train ... collided , '' a sheriff 's spokesman says . `` The big rig hauling cotton failed to yield . '' The crash happened at about 8:45 a.m. in rural eastern Kentucky near the town of New Albany. ` ` It was a fairly high speed collision , '' an official says .
NEW:169 passengers and four crew members were on the southbound train , Amtrak says . `` A big rig and an Amtrak train ... collided , '' a sheriff 's spokesman says . The crash happened at about 8:45 a.m. in rural eastern Kentucky near the town of New Albany. `` It was a fairly high speed collision , '' an official says .