An Amtrak passenger train has derailed near Dupont, Washington, according to KIRO7 . The train derailed near Lacey, Washington, with reports that a semi-truck being crushed beneath the train continuing to unfold, according to CNN . The Amtrak train had train cars that reportedly derailed and landed onto Interstate 5 on both sides, according to eyewitness Danea Orlob, a woman who told CNN that the crash looked bad, noting how she could have been closer to the accident if she hadn’t made a stop during her morning errands to get gasoline.
The Amtrak train derailment blocked all lanes of traffic as emergency personnel responded to the scene, with reports that Interstate 5 in the southbound direction will be closed for quite some time. According to the below tweet from the Pierce County Sheriff, the Amtrak train derailment has caused injuries and “casualties,” although it is not clear how many people have been hurt or killed. The region is being called one that features lots of traffic due to its proximity to Joint Base Lewis-McChord. The new Amtrak train runs on a route from Seattle to Portland and was reportedly headed in a southbound direction when the train derailed.
As reported by KIRO in the below tweet, there were 70 people on board the Amtrak train when it derailed. Video of the scene, along with photos of the derailed Amtrak train No. 501, are flowing into Twitter, as seen below.
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
According to Amtrak’s own website , a new schedule began on Monday, December 18, with train No. 501 showing a southbound schedule that planned to depart at 6:00 a.m. from Seattle and travel through locales like Tukwila, Tacoma, Olympia, Centrailia, Kelso, and Vancouver before arriving in Portland, Oregon, at 9:20 a.m.
As a result of the Amtrak train derailment, Interstate 5 in Washington is trending on Twitter, along with the word Amtrak . In the wake of the train derailing, questions about whether or not the maiden voyage of the Amtrak Cascades train route was validly tested are arising. There are also questions about whether or not there were issues with the train track that might have caused the train to derail in Washington state, as it traveled approximately 80 miles per hour, although there are conflicting reports about the speed of the train.
CONFIRMED: 70 people were on board when this train derailed @KIRO7Seattle pic.twitter.com/8kt93POfU5
— Rachel Young (@RachelYoungRF) December 18, 2017
New photo from train derailment scene https://t.co/OERJqEE1qU #amtrak #dupont pic.twitter.com/mwJ7aHCjDz
— Tacoma News Tribune (@thenewstribune) December 18, 2017
Train derailment eyewitness: “There were cars on both sides of the bridge falling onto the freeway… and there’s vehicles underneath those cars.” https://t.co/Y48RpSoqox pic.twitter.com/uUHP25iwXT
— CNN (@CNN) December 18, 2017
WSP diverting traffic at DuPont. WSP aiding withbroad closure & getting assistance to scene. pic.twitter.com/fRw4uGNIVv
— Trooper Robert Reyer (@wspd1pio) December 18, 2017
JUST IN: An Amtrak train car derailed and is dangling on to Interstate 5 in Pierce County, Washington, according to the Washington state Department of Transportation’s Twitter account https://t.co/BdJzsdleQ2 pic.twitter.com/9hyC7mdMNC
— CNN (@CNN) 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
Photos from scene of amtrak passenger train derailment pic.twitter.com/gd09MzLCC6
— Pierce Co Sheriff (@PierceSheriff) December 18, 2017
What we know about the Amtrak passenger train derailment in Washington state
– At least one train car is dangling over I-5
– Sheriff: Multiple cars struck by train, no known motorist fatalities at this time
– Witness: ”It was pretty horrific-looking” https://t.co/BdJzsdleQ2 pic.twitter.com/laRRgs8qgZ
— CNN (@CNN) December 18, 2017
