Navy Midshipman Traveling Home to Visit Mother Among Those Killed in Amtrak Derailment

A mother of a 2-year-old is among those reported missing

Photo: Courtesy Susan Zemser/Facebook

A 21-year-old midshipman from the U.S. Naval Academy and a 48-year-old video software architect at The Associated Press are among the seven killed in the Amtrak derailment on Tuesday night that was heading from Washington to New York.

Justin Zemser, of Queens, New York, was on leave and heading home to Rockaway Beach, when he was killed, his mother, Susan Zemser, confirmed to ABC.

Zemser, an only child, was finishing his second year at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.

“The Naval Academy is deeply saddened to report that a midshipman was named as one of the passengers who lost their life in the AMTRAK train which crashed in north Philadelphia at approximately 9:30 p.m. last night,” the academy said in a statement.

“The Naval Academy is supporting the midshipman’s family, friends, and loved ones during this time of grief,” the U.S. Naval Academy said in a statement.

The software architect, Jim Gaines, is a father of two and was returning home to Plainsboro, New Jersey, after attending meetings in Washington the AP reported. His death was confirmed by his wife, Jacqueline.

Officials report at least six people remain in critical condition and more than 200 were injured, however, they still do not have an accurate count of how many people remain missing.

“We will continue to do all we can until we have accounted for all the people we believe were on that train,” Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter said in a news conference Wednesday.

Rachel Jacobs, the CEO of online learning startup ApprenNet, hasn’t been seen since the tragic incident, according to ABC.

According to CBS Philly, Jacobs is married with a 2-year-old son. She was recently appointed as CEO and commuted to Philadelphia twice a week from her home in New York City.

“We are heartbroken by what we’ve experienced here,” Mayor Nutter told CNN. “We have not experienced anything like this in modern times.”

Those searching for loved ones who may have been aboard the train are being directed to call an Amtrak hotline at 1 [phone].