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Amtrak Passenger Train Derails On Bridge And Falls On Highway Below In Washington State
An Amtrak passenger train has derailed and fallen on to a busy highway in Washington State in America’s northwest.
A carriage hanging from the bridge is now blocking all southbound lanes on the Interstate 5 in DuPont, prompting a massive emergency response, according to local authorities and news media reports.
Amtrak confirmed its train was involved but did not provide further information.
All SB lanes of I-5 blocked near Mounts Road in Pierce County due to derailed train car. Avoid area! pic.twitter.com/SBH7dCc6yg
— WSDOT Tacoma Traffic (@wsdot_tacoma) December 18, 2017
DEVELOPING: Amtrak train derails onto Interstate 5 in Washington state t.co/dZOridEMVOpic.twitter.com/TNddjFW2oN
— CBS News (@CBSNews) December 18, 2017
We are aware of an incident involving Amtrak train 501. We will update with additional details as they become available.
— Amtrak (@Amtrak) December 18, 2017
“We are aware of an incident involving Amtrak train 501,” the rail operator said on Twitter. “We will update with additional details as they become available.”
Part of the train fell onto the highway around 7.30am (1530 GMT), causing several injuries, The News Tribune reported.
The local newspaper did not have further details on the nature or extent of the injuries.
The Sheriff’s office confirmed “injuries and casualties”, which some media reported as meaning fatalities.
PRELIMINARY INFO – Derailed Amtrak passenger train was heading south bound. Injuries and casualties reported, numbers to come. Media staging area at Eagles Pride Golf Course. #PCSD PIO Troyer enroute, will not answer his cell while driving priority.
— Pierce Co Sheriff (@PierceSheriff) December 18, 2017
Several cars on I5 struck by derailed Amtrak train cars. Multiple motorists injured on roadway, no fatalities of motorists reported.
— Pierce Co Sheriff (@PierceSheriff) December 18, 2017
#BREAKING: Sheriff’s office confirms fatalities, people trapped after train derailment on I-5. t.co/R747O9OHIE
— KIRO 7 (@KIRO7Seattle) December 18, 2017
CBS reported that the accident happened on a new high-speed service that only launched Monday.
Amtrak train 501, which departed from Tacoma, was part of a service that launched Monday morning, CBS reported.
The Cascades service from Seattle to Portland was supposed to be rated for a maximum speed of 79 mph for the section where it derailed in DuPont, passenger Chris Karnes told the broadcaster.
Amtrak train # 501 was part of a new high-speed service that just launched today, CBS affiliate @KIRO7Seattle reports t.co/2CyKkppdREpic.twitter.com/XKqbNYfyMW
— CBS News (@CBSNews) December 18, 2017
#BREAKING: New photos show @Amtrak derailment near Lacey. [Photos: Maria Fullenwider-Hetland]
Real-time updates: t.co/V1JMGude8hpic.twitter.com/LAe3i2C62c
— KIRO 7 (@KIRO7Seattle) December 18, 2017
#BreakingNews high speed @Amtrak train hanging over I-5 at Mounts road. First responders treating this as a mass casualty incident. No official word on injuries yet. @KIRO7Seattlepic.twitter.com/bSXstBQNdJ
— Terry Griffin (@TerryKIRO7) December 18, 2017
A photograph posted on Twitter by the Washington State Department of Transportation showed a train car that had apparently veered off a bridge onto the highway below. The agency said southbound lanes were closed, and warned drivers to avoid the area.
The National Transportation Safety Board said on Twitter that it was gathering information about the incident.
www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/amtrak-train-derails_uk_5a37ed32e4b040881becccda
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