Amtrak Passenger Train Derails On Bridge And Falls On Highway Below In Washington State

Several deaths reported.
LOADINGERROR LOADING

An Amtrak passenger train has derailed and fallen on to a busy highway in Washington State in America’s northwest, killing at least three people and injuring dozens, officials said.

A spokesman for the local sheriff’s office, Ed Troyer, told reporters at the scene there were “multiple” deaths at the scene - roughly 50 miles southwest of Seattle - but did not have a specific number to report.

At least two train cars crashed onto Interstate 5 around 7.30am (1530 GMT), striking numerous vehicles on the highway, but no motorists were killed, Troyer, a spokesman for the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office, said.

“When we got to the scene, it was obvious there were some fatalities and there were a lot of injuries, and some people were able to get off the train,” he added.

Seventy seven people have been taken to hospital after the derailment and multiple deaths have been reported
Seventy seven people have been taken to hospital after the derailment and multiple deaths have been reported
Pierce Co Sheriff
Approximately 78 passengers and five crew members were abroad the train when it crash, Amtrak said
Approximately 78 passengers and five crew members were abroad the train when it crash, Amtrak said
Pierce Co Sheriff

Seventy seven people have been taken to hospital.

Approximately 78 passengers and five crew members were aboard the train, Amtrak said in a statement.

The Amtrak Cascades 501 service reached speeds of up to 79mph, on a new route meant to bypass an area with heavy passenger train traffic, that opened on Monday.

US President Donald Trump said the accident showed the necessity of an infrastructure plan.

The train accident that just occurred in DuPont, WA shows more than ever why our soon to be submitted infrastructure plan must be approved quickly. Seven trillion dollars spent in the Middle East while our roads, bridges, tunnels, railways (and more) crumble! Not for long!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 18, 2017

FACT on today's derailment: Trump has submitted NO plan to fix railroad tracks to Congress. He has, however, submitted a budget to SLASH spending on long-distance rail. https://t.co/3nv2j7W22E

— Ronald Klain (@RonaldKlain) December 18, 2017

The President's budget request on trains was described thusly: "a nearly 13 percent reduction in transportation spending over fiscal 2017 ... and a $630 million reduction in subsidies for long-distance Amtrak routes." https://t.co/0TS3YGG6od https://t.co/7oxxp9LEXa

— Phil Elliott (@Philip_Elliott) December 18, 2017

“The train accident that just occurred in DuPont, WA shows more than ever why our soon to be submitted infrastructure plan must be approved quickly,” Trump said. “Seven trillion dollars spent in the Middle East while our roads, bridges, tunnels, railways (and more) crumble! Not for long!”

Before, in a second tweet ten minutes later, he extended his “thoughts and prayers” to those affected.

My thoughts and prayers are with everyone involved in the train accident in DuPont, Washington. Thank you to all of our wonderful First Responders who are on the scene. We are currently monitoring here at the White House.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 18, 2017

Trump's reaction to Amtrak train derailment: First, use the train accident to call attention to your infrastructure proposals. Second, express concern for the victims. pic.twitter.com/xMxotYXCkD

— Jeremy Diamond (@JDiamond1) December 18, 2017

Amtrak passenger Chris Karnes told local news outlet KIRO 7 that passengers were forced to kick out train windows in order to escape, because emergency doors were not functioning properly following the derailment.

An Amtrak passenger train in seen derailed on a bridge in Washington State
An Amtrak passenger train in seen derailed on a bridge in Washington State
Handout . / Reuters

“We had just passed the city of DuPont and it seemed like we were going around a curve,” Karnes said. “All of a sudden, we felt this rocking and creaking noise, and it felt like we were heading down a hill.”

“The next thing we know, we’re being slammed into the front of our seats, windows are breaking, we stop, and there’s water gushing out of the train. People were screaming,” he added.

Photos from the scene show a carriage hanging from the bridge blocking all southbound lanes on the Interstate 5.

The derailment occurred on the first day that Amtrak trains began using a new track between the cities of Tacoma and Olympia, part of a project to reduce travel time, according to an October news release from the state’s transportation department.

A map showing where the derailment occurred
A map showing where the derailment occurred
Reuters

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 https://t.co/dZOridEMVO pic.twitter.com/TNddjFW2oN

— CBS News (@CBSNews) December 18, 2017

More photos from scene of Amtrak train derailment pic.twitter.com/yWEJejp1H2

— Pierce Co Sheriff (@PierceSheriff) 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

The new route takes trains along Interstate 5, eliminating a major choke point for passenger trains in Tacoma, the release said.

It was not immediately clear whether the derailment, which came during a busy travel time one week before the Christmas holiday, was connected to the new route.

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. https://t.co/R747O9OHIE

— KIRO 7 (@KIRO7Seattle) December 18, 2017

The train had been scheduled to leave Seattle at 6am (1400 GMT) and arrive in Portland, Oregon, at 9:20am (1720 GMT), according to an Amtrak timetable.

Monday was the first day that Amtrak offered a 6am departure on its Amtrak Cascades line as part of the rerouting project.

WSP diverting traffic at DuPont. WSP aiding withbroad closure & getting assistance to scene. pic.twitter.com/fRw4uGNIVv

— Trooper Brooke Bova (@wspd1pio) December 18, 2017

More medic units arriving pic.twitter.com/04fwMmwsrq

— Austin Jenkins N3 (@AustinJenkinsN3) December 18, 2017

Amtrak train # 501 was part of a new high-speed service that just launched today, CBS affiliate @KIRO7Seattle reports https://t.co/2CyKkppdRE pic.twitter.com/XKqbNYfyMW

— CBS News (@CBSNews) December 18, 2017

#BREAKING: New photos show @Amtrak derailment near Lacey. [Photos: Maria Fullenwider-Hetland]

Real-time updates: https://t.co/V1JMGude8h pic.twitter.com/LAe3i2C62c

— KIRO 7 (@KIRO7Seattle) December 18, 2017

DuPont: This SB I-5 closure is a huge pinch point. Expect all alt routes to have heavy traffic. Here is one alternative that might work for you if you must drive. #I5MountsTrain pic.twitter.com/Yn4ZFBe9md

— WSDOT Tacoma Traffic (@wsdot_tacoma) 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. @KIRO7Seattle pic.twitter.com/bSXstBQNdJ

— Terry Griffin (@TerryKIRO7) December 18, 2017

Authorities warned drivers to avoid the area, and the southbound lanes remained closed.

The National Transportation Safety Board said on Twitter that it was gathering information about the incident.

“Thank you to the first responders on the scene. We’re praying for everyone on board the train, and ask everyone to hold them in your thoughts,” Washington Governor Jay Inslee wrote in a Twitter message.

The mayor of one of the towns through which the rerouted trains travel warned earlier this month that the high-speed trains were dangerously close to cars and pedestrians.

“Come back when there is that accident, and try to justify not putting in those safety enhancements, or you can go back now and advocate for the money to do it, because this project was never needed and endangers our citizens,” Lakewood Mayor Don Anderson told transportation officials in early December, according to Seattle’s KOMO News.

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.

Close

What's Hot