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| Amtrak derails onto highway in Washington state, injuries & casualties reported (VIDEO) | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| An Amtrak train with 78 passengers and 5 crew on board has derailed on a bridge in the US state of Washington. Emergency services are at the scene, and fatalities have been reported. | |
| The sheriff confirmed to media that there were “some fatalities” in the incident, adding that the exact number is still unknown. He also added that 70 people were on board the train in total. | |
| Amtrak confirmed there were 78 passengers and 5 crew members on board the Cascades 501 train on its inaugural trip along the new route. | |
| The train was traveling from Tacoma to Olympia and derailed just west of DuPont, in Pierce County. An airlift helicopter is on its way to the scene, according to KIRO 7. | |
| The Pierce County Sheriff's Office tweeted that "injuries and casualties" have been reported, stating that exact numbers will be revealed soon. | The Pierce County Sheriff's Office tweeted that "injuries and casualties" have been reported, stating that exact numbers will be revealed soon. |
| Seventy-seven people have been transported to area hospitals after the derailment. | |
| Passenger Chris Karnes said those on the train were forced to kick out train windows to exit, as the emergency doors were not functioning correctly. | Passenger Chris Karnes said those on the train were forced to kick out train windows to exit, as the emergency doors were not functioning correctly. |
| "We had just passed the city of DuPont and it seemed like we were going around a curve," Karnes said, as quoted by CBS News. "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." | "We had just passed the city of DuPont and it seemed like we were going around a curve," Karnes said, as quoted by CBS News. "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." |
| "The tracks for this line were supposed to be upgraded to be able to handle higher speeds," Karnes continued. "I'm not sure what happened at this juncture." | "The tracks for this line were supposed to be upgraded to be able to handle higher speeds," Karnes continued. "I'm not sure what happened at this juncture." |
| Washington Governor Jay Inslee has thanked the first responders at the scene, and called the incident an "ongoing and serious situation." | |
| The derailment occurred during morning rush hour, and shut down the southbound lanes of Interstate 5, according to the Washington Department of Transportation. Drivers have been advised to avoid the area. | |
| The derailed cars are blocking the south-bound lanes of I-5, causing a three-mile backup of vehicles on the interstate, according to local media. I-5 has been closed until further notice. | The derailed cars are blocking the south-bound lanes of I-5, causing a three-mile backup of vehicles on the interstate, according to local media. I-5 has been closed until further notice. |
| Amtrak train 501 was part of a service that launched Monday morning. Trains 504 and 509 have been canceled, Amtrak said. |