In a press briefing Wednesday afternoon, the NTSB said that preliminary data shows that the Amtrak train was traveling approximately 106 miles per hour before it derailed, killing seven and injuring over 140 passengers.
The NTSB official also stated that the conductor applied an emergency braking system just before the turn where the train derailed.
The NTSB cautioned that these are preliminary findings, and subject to change after further analysis.
Federal investigators are examining the recovered black boxes to determine if speed was a contributing factor to the accident. The NTSB said that the train was equipped with a forward-facing video camera and event recorder, both of which will be analyzed at the NTSB lab in Washington, D.C.
According to Reuters, the train was not fitted with latest U.S. safety controls. The route where the Amtrak train left the track was not fitted with equipment designed to prevent high-speed derailments.
Earlier, analysis by the Associated Press indicated that the train may have been traveling at 107 miles per hour before entering a curve rated at 50 miles per hour.
The Amtrak engineer at the controls declined to talk to police Wednesday.
