Train that crashed into stalled train in Arkansas was coming to help, going too fast

A National Transportation Safety Board member says a train that collided with a stalled passenger train in Arkansas was coming to help the train and was apparently going too fast.

Mark Rosekind said Friday that the crash happened after an Arkansas & Missouri Railroad train stalled Thursday. A train that came to help the stalled train crashed into it.

Rosekind says the train should have been moving at no more than 20 miles per hour, but appears to have been traveling 25 miles per hour. Rosekind said the estimation is preliminary and based on information from recorders on the assist train.

Rosekind said the conductor of the passenger train reported that it had stalled before on the trip and that an oily substance from autumn leaves is a possible cause.