Engineer at Controls of Derailed Amtrak Train Has Been Identified

The engineer of the Amtrak train that crashed in Philadelphia on Tuesday night has been identified by multiple news outlets as Brandon Bostian, 32, of Bronx, New York. However, the question still remains: Why was the train going over 106 mph in a 50 mph zone?

Photo: CBS

Officials say he refused to talk to police Wednesday as the death toll climbed to seven with the discovery of another body in the wreckage, authorities said.

More than 200 people were injured in the derailment that plunged screaming passengers into darkness and chaos Tuesday night.

NEW: Engineer of crashed train is Brandon Bostian, 32, of Queens, NY, attorney tells @ABC - https://t.co/U9MJBNbB5a pic.twitter.com/MXJc0j8NNZ

— ABC News (@ABC) May 13, 2015

Officials said on Wednesday that the train was going roughly 106 mph — over double the speed limit — when it hit a sharp curve and derailed.

NTSB board member Robert Sumwalt also confirmed that the engineer hit the brakes moments before the fatal accident.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. Carousel image via Getty.

---