SPECIAL REPORT ON WASHINGTON STATE TRAIN DERAILMENT
BY LUCY WARNER
POSTED DECEMBER 18, 2017, AT 1:05 PM


COVERAGE ON THE HORRIFIC TRAIN DERAILMENT IN WASHINGTON STATE IS BEING LIVE CAST ON THE FOLLOWING SITE: https://www.cbsnews.com/. AN EARLIER BBC REPORT, ALSO, IS SHOWN BELOW.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-42401707
Washington train crash: Rail carriages fall on US motorway
December 18, 2017

Photograph -- TROOPER BROOKE BOVA/WASHINGTON STATE PATROL
Image caption
A trooper from Washington State Patrol tweeted this image from the scene

Two train carriages have plummeted on to a motorway in Washington state, causing a number of fatalities, police say.

The train derailed and the carriages fell on to the I-5 highway below.

Images from the scene show emergency services treating people on the ground. Amtrak confirmed there had been injuries.

Several cars on the highway were struck by the derailed carriages, the Pierce County Sheriff's department says.

Sheriff department spokesman Ed Troyer has told local media that there are fatalities and people still trapped on the train.

Among motorists caught up in the incident there were a number of people injured but no one killed, the department said.

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Colleen O'Brien
@ColleenKIROFM
BREAKING: Pierce County Det. Ed Troyer: Confirmed fatalities, major injuries, ppl being transferred to hospital, ppl still trapped on the train. Don't know cause of derailment.

11:37 AM - Dec 18, 2017
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Local news stations report that this was the inaugural run of the new high-speed rail line.

The crash occurred around 07:30 (15:30 GMT), about 45 minutes into train 501's journey between Portland and Seattle.

train dangles on roadwayImage copyrightWASHINGTON TRANSPORATION BOARD
Before the crash, it was travelling at more than 80mph (130kmh), with at least 75 people on board.

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating.

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Pierce Co Sheriff
@PierceSheriff
Photos from scene of amtrak passenger train derailment

12:10 PM - Dec 18, 2017
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WSDOT Tacoma Traffic
✔
@wsdot_tacoma
All SB lanes of I-5 blocked near Mounts Road in Pierce County due to derailed train car. Avoid area!

10:45 AM - Dec 18, 2017