At Least Three Fatalities Reported After Amtrak Derailment in Washington State
An Amtrak train has derailed and fallen off an overpass over Interstate 5 near Dupont, Wash.
An Amtrak train has derailed and fallen off an overpass over Interstate 5 near Dupont, Wash., south of Seattle CBS News affiliate KIRO-TV reported first responders were treating the derailment as a mass-casualty incident, and authorities said multiple fatalities and injuries have been reported. KOMO News reported at least three people aboard the train were killed, and the Seattle Times reported that this was the first time an Amtrak train had used the Pt. Defiance Bypass route.
The incident happened about 7:30 a.m. local time Dec. 18 after the southbound train departed from Tacoma. It derailed in DuPont and some railcars dangled from an overpass onto Interstate 5, shutting down the freeway, the Tacoma News Tribune and the Washington State Patrol reported.
According to Amtrak, Amtrak Cascades Train 501 had about 78 passengers and five crew members on board.
The Pierce County Sheriff's Department said train cars hit vehicles on I-5, injuring motorists, but that no motorists were killed.
The Washington State Department of Transportation reported that southbound I-5 near the area was closed and instructed drivers to avoid traveling in that area.