IRVING, NY (AP) -- New York State Police say an Amtrak passenger train reported hitting some railroad ties that had been placed across the tracks on the Seneca Indian Nation's Cattaraugus reservation.
Troopers Thursday said no one was injured when the train struck and splintered the two ties Monday morning, but the train's air lines were damaged.
Investigators say there are signs on the western New York reservation saying "No Mail-No Rail," in reference to a law that recently went into effect banning cigarette sellers from shipping tobacco through the mail. The law threatens to destroy the Senecas' lucrative mail-order cigarette industry.
A federal judge is allowing more than 140 Seneca Indian-owned businesses to ignore the law for now pending a legal challenge.
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