Update 1:49 pm: at least 5 Amtrak employees are reported seriously to critically injured, 2 of which needed to be cut from the front engine car.  100 of the 187 (at least) reported passengers are “walking wounded”.  One witness reports that the train was travelling between 15 to 20 mph and there were no signs of braking before colliding with the parked freight train.  CNN has a video interview with a witness.

My thoughts and prayers go out to the passengers and their families:

CHICAGO (AP) – An Amtrak passenger train collided with a freight train Friday on the south side of the city, fire officials said.

Approximately 150 passengers were on the Amtrak train, officials said. Fifteen ambulances were on their way to the scene.

“So far nobody is being taken on stretcher. That’s a good sign,” said Fire Department spokesman Larry Langford.

The engine of the Amtrak train was resting on top of the last car of the freight train, but the Amtrak cars remained upright. Firefighters were seen carrying several children from the accident scene.

Story and updates here.