At least six dead and dozens injured as Amtrak train in the US derails
At least six fatalities have now been reported.
An Amtrak train carrying approximately 78 passengers and five crew members has derailed 64km outside Seattle, Washington state.
UPDATE: 78 passengers on board, 5 crew: multiple fatalities. #Amtrak Cascades Train 501 derailed south of Tacoma, Washington. pic.twitter.com/IAO6S58bd0
— Ben Kennedy (@BenKennedyTV) December 18, 2017
The vehicle, Train 501, was on the maiden day of a new €150m high-speed service between Seattle and Portland and was travelling at 128kph at the time.
LISTEN: Harrowing radio transmission from Amtrak train derailment: "Amtrak 501. Emergency. Emergency. Emergency. We are on the ground." https://t.co/xyhXhfM7lI pic.twitter.com/WdpJWNaoKL
— ABC News (@ABC) December 18, 2017
It derailed while crossing a bridge over Interstate 5 near DuPont, Washington around 7:40am Pacific Time, causing at least one car to fall onto the freeway below.
Latest update regarding train 501: https://t.co/sn4sruYLbY pic.twitter.com/3Gt3fQXV99
— Amtrak (@Amtrak) December 18, 2017
The Seattle Times is reporting that at least six are dead. CBS News reports that a total of 77 patients are currently being treated for injuries, with four classed as critical.
It is believed that no motorists driving on the freeway were killed.
