An Amtrak train derailed south of Seattle, and authorities say “injuries and casualties” were reported.
The train derailed about 40 miles (64 kilometres) south of Seattle before 8 a.m. Monday, spilling at least one train car on to busy Interstate 5.
The Pierce County Sheriff's office says in a tweet that the train was heading south bound and that there were “injuries and casualties,” but no numbers were immediately available.
A traffic camera image posted by WSDOT Tacoma Traffic shows a derailed train blocking part of the I-5 early Monday, Dec. 18, 2017.
All southbound lanes of Interstate 5 were closed south of Joint Base Lewis-McChord, and motorists were being warned to avoid the area.
The number of fatalities on board the train was not immediately clear, but no one was killed on the roadway of Interstate 5 below, according to the Pierce County Sheriff's Office. Several motorists on the highway were injured when their vehicles were struck by the derailed train south of Tacoma.
Photos from scene of amtrak passenger train derailment pic.twitter.com/gd09MzLCC6
— Pierce Co Sheriff (@PierceSheriff) December 18, 2017
WSP diverting traffic at DuPont. WSP aiding withbroad closure & getting assistance to scene. pic.twitter.com/fRw4uGNIVv
— Trooper Brooke Bova (@wspd1pio) December 18, 2017
More photos from scene of Amtrak train derailment pic.twitter.com/yWEJejp1H2
— Pierce Co Sheriff (@PierceSheriff) December 18, 2017
The derailed train was the first to carry paying customers on a new route for Amtrak. This track had carried freight trains, but was recently upgraded to carry passengers.
The deaths "are all contained to the train," said Ed Troyer, the Pierce County Sheriff's Office spokesman. "It's pretty horrific."
There were 78 passengers and five crew members on board, Amtrak said.
None of the fatalities involved motorists, officials said.
Patient transportation is being coordinated from the command center at St. Joseph Medical Center and the Pierce County Disaster Management Command Center. Rooms have been set up for family members, officials said.
Amtrak train derailed just south of Dupont. Emergency vehicles came immediately. Happened about 50yd before I was involved in it. pic.twitter.com/jMMVFvngjr
— Greg Mukai (@Gregor_WA) December 18, 2017
Photo: Trooper Brooke Bova / Twitter
