An Amtrak passenger train traveling between Seattle, WA and Portland, OR derailed this morning, leaving one car dangling over the I-5 freeway. There are early reports of casualties including some fatalities. Reports indicate there were 70 people on the train at the time it crashed.
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
Amtrak has acknowledged the incident on Twitter and posted a statement saying service south of Seattle is suspended:
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
Update regarding train 501 and service disruptions south of Seattle: https://t.co/MemZYaGk2K
— Amtrak (@Amtrak) December 18, 2017
Amtrak is aware of an incident with Train 501, Cascades service from Seattle to Portland. Emergency services are on the scene and Amtrak management is responding. Some injuries are reported.
Amtrak service south of Seattle is temporarily suspended. Service from Seattle to points north and east is continuing to operate.
The Governor of Washington thanked first responders:
Thank you to the first repsonders on the scene. We're praying for everyone on board the train, and ask everyone to hold them in your thoughts. https://t.co/Zh3qJsFXVv
— Governor Jay Inslee (@GovInslee) December 18, 2017
Here are some of the first images of the accident:
#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
#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
One car is hanging off the overpass and another appears to be flipped upside-down on the freeway below:
WSP diverting traffic at DuPont. WSP aiding withbroad closure & getting assistance to scene. pic.twitter.com/fRw4uGNIVv
— Trooper Ryan Burke (@wspd1pio) December 18, 2017
The local Sheriff’s office reported that the train injured motorists below when it fell:
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
A witness passing on the other side of the freeway told CNN she could see passenger vehicles under the fallen train:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2uygUecMgw
More images:
Photos from scene of amtrak passenger train derailment pic.twitter.com/gd09MzLCC6
— Pierce Co Sheriff (@PierceSheriff) December 18, 2017
More photos from scene of Amtrak train derailment pic.twitter.com/yWEJejp1H2
— Pierce Co Sheriff (@PierceSheriff) December 18, 2017
Kiro 7 is now reporting 3 fatalities. Seattle Times reporter Lewis Kamb says a local hospital is treating 12 patients from the derailment:
St. Peter Hospital in Olympia now treating about 12 patients from today's train derailment. 3 are in critical condition, according to hospital spox. Several other area hospitals also receiving patients. Updates: https://t.co/ox6AWWSSSA
— Lewis Kamb (@lewiskamb) December 18, 2017
I’ll continue to update this post as more information becomes available.
Update: Amtrak says there a total of 83 people were on board:
Latest update regarding train 501: https://t.co/sn4sruYLbY pic.twitter.com/3Gt3fQXV99
— Amtrak (@Amtrak) December 18, 2017
Update: This was the first train on the first day of a new train service from Seattle to Portland. Reporter Alex Rozier got off the train shortly before it crashed:
This is hard for me to watch. This was from my #Instagram story. This was right before we got off the train. Had we stayed on that train who knows what would have happened. It derailed minutes later. Thoughts and prayers are with the people injured or worse. pic.twitter.com/CHWvY9n8ln
— Alex Rozier (@RozierReports) December 18, 2017
This was what all the passengers received before the @Amtrak ride. On the very first day, the very first ride, the train derailed. pic.twitter.com/YLgtDwrHnH
— Alex Rozier (@RozierReports) December 18, 2017
Update: Sheriff’s office says casualty numbers being reported did not come from them. Official numbers still not released:
#PCSD has NOT released any numbers on injuries or fatalities. Any reports attributing these to our department are incorrect. All official updates regarding injuries or fatalities will be released by @wspd1pio
— Pierce Co Sheriff (@PierceSheriff) December 18, 2017
Update: Kiro 7 says at least 90 people sent to local hospitals, this presumably includes people on the freeway below:
At least 70 people were sent to St Joseph Hospital, according to CHI Franciscan Health. 20 were sent to the Madigan Army Medical Center emergency center. [Real-time updates: https://t.co/o7T1s3BWrN ] pic.twitter.com/D4DMSoNXzt
— KIRO 7 (@KIRO7Seattle) December 18, 2017
Also, the Associated Press is reporting some information the train’s speed just before the crash:
The train was going 81.1 mph moments before the derailment, according to transitdocs.com, a website that maps Amtrak train locations and speeds using data from the railroad’s train tracker app.
The maximum speed along the stretch of track, known as Point Defiance Bypass, is 79 mph, according to information about the project posted online by the Washington State Department of Transportation.
Update: This aerial footage really shows how much of the train wound up on the freeway below. The one car which remains on the track was apparently the rear engine. It looks as if some cars went off to the right of the track and then stacked up on the bridge and forced the last few cars off to the left.
New aerial views show Amtrak train cars hanging over overpass on to I-5, which will be shut down all day today, @KIRO7Seattle reports https://t.co/2CyKkppdRE pic.twitter.com/7RktCSSFS9
— CBS News (@CBSNews) December 18, 2017
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