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Fatal crash on US subway system Fatal crash on US subway system
(29 minutes later)
Two rush-hour subway trains have collided in Washington DC, killing at least four people and injuring several others, officials say. Two rush-hour subway trains have collided in Washington DC, killing at least four people and injuring up to 70 others, according to officials.
Washington transport officials said "massive injuries" had been reported. One train hit the second from behind while it was stationary, the Associated Press news agency reported.
"Metro reports that two trains collided and one train is on top of the other train," it said in a statement. The female driver of one of the trains is said to be among the dead.
The crash happened above ground between the Fort Totten and Takoma Park stations on the Metro system's red line at 1700 local time (2200 BST).The crash happened above ground between the Fort Totten and Takoma Park stations on the Metro system's red line at 1700 local time (2200 BST).
Washington Mayor Adrian Fenty said: "What we do know is that there are scores of people who have been injured. There are already four confirmed fatalities.Washington Mayor Adrian Fenty said: "What we do know is that there are scores of people who have been injured. There are already four confirmed fatalities.
"It is my present understanding that this would then be the deadliest accident in the history of our Metro train transit system.""It is my present understanding that this would then be the deadliest accident in the history of our Metro train transit system."
Washington fire spokesman Alan Etter told the Associated Press news agency the crash was developing into a "mass casualty event".Washington fire spokesman Alan Etter told the Associated Press news agency the crash was developing into a "mass casualty event".
He said crews were cutting apart the trains to get people out. He said there were severely injured people, but gave no indication of how many. He said crews had been cutting apart the trains to get people out.
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The general manager of the Washington subway John Catoe told reporters at the scene the authorities were trying to determine what had happened. Rescue workers treated 70 people at the scene and sent some to local hospitals.
The general manager of the Washington subway, John Catoe, told reporters at the scene the authorities were trying to determine what had happened.
"We're working... to make sure that we get everyone outside of the train - those who need medical attention, that they can get medical attention, and those who are not seriously injured are being walked out of the train," he said."We're working... to make sure that we get everyone outside of the train - those who need medical attention, that they can get medical attention, and those who are not seriously injured are being walked out of the train," he said.
"We know that they've taken over 60 people off the train but as far as injuries are concerned we do not have a confirmed number on injuries." "We know that they've taken over 60 people off the train but as far as injuries are concerned we do not have a confirmed number."
Passenger Jodie Wickett told CNN it felt like the trains had hit each other head-on. Passenger Jodie Wickett told CNN she had been sitting on one train, sending text messages on her phone, when she felt the impact.
"People were just in very bad shape," she said. She said: "From that point on, it happened so fast, I flew out of the seat and hit my head."
But BBC correspondent Richard Lister said at this stage it seemed both trains had been going in the same direction, on the same line, when there was a derailment of some kind. Ms Wickett said she stayed at the scene and tried to help.
One of the carriages of one of the six-car trains has been left on top of a carriage of one of the other trains, he said. She added: "People are just in very bad shape. The people that were hurt, the ones that could speak, were calling back as we called out to them.
Our correspondent said the accident happened at the peak of rush hour, on what is a popular and busy commuter line. "Lots of people were upset and crying, but there were no screams."
BBC correspondent Richard Lister said the accident had happened at the peak of rush hour, on what is a popular and busy commuter line.
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