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Amtrak train crashes from bridge on to freeway near Seattle Amtrak train crash: 'multiple fatalities' reported in derailment near Seattle
(about 1 hour later)
An Amtrak train has derailed roughly 40 miles (64km) south of Seattle, spilling cars on to a busy interstate.An Amtrak train has derailed roughly 40 miles (64km) south of Seattle, spilling cars on to a busy interstate.
Authorities said “injuries and casualties [were] reported”. Authorities reported “multiple fatalities” on the train, the Associated Press said. Many injuries were also reported.
The train derailed just before 8am on Monday. All southbound lanes of Interstate 5 were closed south of Joint Base Lewis-McChord, and motorists were being warned to avoid the area. The train was traveling south on a new high-speed rail route that opened on Monday when it derailed just before 8am. After the derailment, one of the train’s carriages was left hanging off an overpass, resting on an overturned train car below.
The train derailed just south of Tacoma, Washington. The Pierce County sheriff’s office said in a tweet that the derailed train had struck several cars on the interstate. “Multiple motorists injured on roadway, no fatalities of motorists reported,” it said.
The Pierce County Sheriff’s office says in a tweet that the train was heading south bound and that there were “injuries and casualties,” but no numbers were immediately available. The derailment occurred just south of Tacoma in Washington state.
The Seattle Times reported at least three people were killed after the train derailed. The Guardian was not able to immediately confirm the number of fatalities.
Chris Karnes was three or four cars back from the front of the derailed train. He told the Associated Press in a brief phone interview Monday morning that he was “not sure what got hit”.
Karnes was unhurt and is now near the medical tents set up in a median area between north- and southbound Interstate 5. Several passengers were gathered at the staging area there an hour after the derailment, clad in grey blankets and using their cellphones.
First up close images of scene coming from @wspd1pio Trooper Bova, this is heartbreaking to see. Our thoughts & prayers to everyone involved. pic.twitter.com/ws460sjWRoFirst up close images of scene coming from @wspd1pio Trooper Bova, this is heartbreaking to see. Our thoughts & prayers to everyone involved. pic.twitter.com/ws460sjWRo
All southbound lanes of Interstate 5 were closed south of Joint Base Lewis-McChord, and motorists were being warned to avoid the area. Amtrak said service south of Seattle was temporarily suspended but service north of Seattle would continue to operate.
All southbound lanes of Interstate 5 were closed south of Joint Base Lewis-McChord. Motorists were being warned to avoid the area.
Local politicians had previously expressed concern about plans to introduce the high-speed rail to the region.
“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,” Don Anderson, mayor of Lakewood, said earlier this month.