6 reported killed in 'massive' Amtrak derailment onto I-5 south of Seattle
An Amtrak train carrying about 83 people derailed during morning rush hour Monday southwest of Seattle and landed on Interstate 5 on the first day of service on the route. Six deaths and multiple injuries were reported, according to AP.The Thurston County Sheriff tweeted about a "massive incident involving a train" derailing on the Mounts Road overpass midway between Tacoma and Olympia. A U.S. official told AP track obstruction is seen as a possible cause for the crash.@PierceSheriff: Photos from scene of amtrak passenger train derailmentPolice said several cars on the highway were struck by the train cars after it fell off the overpass around 7:40 a.m. PT. Several motorists were injured wbut no fatalities among motorists were reported. At least 77 people have been transported to a hospital, yet the severity of the injuries remains unknown.Train service south of Seattle "is temporarily suspended," Amtrak said.Amtrak said about 78 passengers and five crewmembers were on board. It said people with questions about their friends and family on the train should call 800-523-9101.Photojournalist Terry Griffin for Seattle's KIRO 7 said in a tweet that first responders are "treating this as a mass casualty incident." A notice on the Washington State Department of Transportation's website before the crash said that Monday was the first day for Amtrak's Cascades train to use the route along I-5. Alex Rozier, a reporter from NBC Seattle affiliate KING-TV, had been on the train reporting on the new route but got off at the previous stop. He said most of the seats were filled in the part of the train he was reporting from."It derailed minutes after we got off the train," he said.@AlexRozierK5: BREAKING: Sound Transit confirms for me the train that derailed was Amtrak 501. This is the very first day for the early service. I was on that exact train this morning. We got off 10 minutes before the derailment.The cause derailment is under investigation by multiple authorities. President Donald Trump said in a tweet that the accident "shows more than ever why our soon to be submitted infrastructure plan must be approved quickly." @realDonaldTrump: 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!The president tweeted a second time, a few minutes later, saying his "thoughts and prayers" are with those in DuPont. He thanked the first responders to the accident.@realDonaldTrump: 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.This is breaking news. Please check back for updates. An Amtrak train carrying about 83 people derailed during morning rush hour Monday southwest of Seattle and landed on Interstate 5 on the first day of service on the route. Six deaths and multiple injuries were reported, according to AP. The Thurston County Sheriff tweeted about a "massive incident involving a train" derailing on the Mounts Road overpass midway between Tacoma and Olympia. A U.S. official told AP track obstruction is seen as a possible cause for the crash. @PierceSheriff: Photos from scene of amtrak passenger train derailment Police said several cars on the highway were struck by the train cars after it fell off the overpass around 7:40 a.m. PT. Several motorists were injured wbut no fatalities among motorists were reported. At least 77 people have been transported to a hospital, yet the severity of the injuries remains unknown. Train service south of Seattle "is temporarily suspended," Amtrak said. Amtrak said about 78 passengers and five crewmembers were on board. It said people with questions about their friends and family on the train should call 800-523-9101. Photojournalist Terry Griffin for Seattle's KIRO 7 said in a tweet that first responders are "treating this as a mass casualty incident." A notice on the Washington State Department of Transportation's website before the crash said that Monday was the first day for Amtrak's Cascades train to use the route along I-5. Alex Rozier, a reporter from NBC Seattle affiliate KING-TV, had been on the train reporting on the new route but got off at the previous stop. He said most of the seats were filled in the part of the train he was reporting from. "It derailed minutes after we got off the train," he said. @AlexRozierK5: BREAKING: Sound Transit confirms for me the train that derailed was Amtrak 501. This is the very first day for the early service. I was on that exact train this morning. We got off 10 minutes before the derailment. The cause derailment is under investigation by multiple authorities. President Donald Trump said in a tweet that the accident "shows more than ever why our soon to be submitted infrastructure plan must be approved quickly." @realDonaldTrump: 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! The president tweeted a second time, a few minutes later, saying his "thoughts and prayers" are with those in DuPont. He thanked the first responders to the accident. @realDonaldTrump: 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. This is breaking news. Please check back for updates.
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