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Washington derailment – live updates: Multiple deaths after Amtrak train falls off bridge onto busy motorway

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The Independent US

Key Points

  • 17.49 (GMT): Donald Trump has been briefed on the ongoing situation
  • 17.45: As many as 77 people have been taken to hospital
  • 17.31: Multiple fatalities confirmed by local law enforcement

There have been a number of deaths after an Amtrak train derailed on an overpass in Washington State, according to a spokesman for the local sheriff's office

The train derailed on a bridge over a major highway in DuPont, Washington - leaving it hanging over the Interstate 5. and blocking all southbound lanes. 

The Pierce County Sheriff's Department said it had reports of both injuries and casualties. Among the injured were motorists who had been struck by the derailed cars, none of whom were killed.

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Live Updates

The mayor of Seattle, Jenny A Durkan, released a statement calling the passenger train derailment "horrific".
Seattle's Major League Baseball team has responded to the train derailment.
Both of Washington's senators have responded to the Monday train derailment outside of Seattle.
The National Transportation Board has announced that it will investigate the passenger train derailment in Washington.
The governor of Washington, Jay Inslee, has released a statement following the Amtrak derailment in his state.
The Department of Homeland Security says that it is monitoring the situation in Washington State closely after an Amtrak train derailed there.

Multiple injuries have been reported, and Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen has been briefed on the issue.
Amtrak says  that there were 78 passengers, and five crew members, on board the passenger train that derailed in Washington State.

In a release, Amtrak said that individuals with questions about their friends or families should call (800) 523 - 9101.
President Donald Trump has been briefed on the passenger train derailment in Washington State, according to White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders.

"The President is aware and we are monitoring the situation," she said.
As many as 77 people have been taken to local hospitals after an Amtrak passenger train derailed from an overpass above Interstate 5 in Pierce County, Washington.

Four of those patients are considered "level red" patients, meaning they have the most severe injuries.

The hospitals have set up rooms for visiting family.
Amtrak passengers on the derailed train in Washington State say that they were forced to kick windows out to get to safety because emergency exits weren't functioning properly.

"We had just passed the city of DuPont and it seemed like we were going around a curve" Chris Karnes told local news outlet KIRO 7. "All of a sudden, we felt this rocking and creaking noise, and it felt like we were heading down a hill."
 
"The next thing we know, we're being slammed into the front of our seats, windows are breaking, we stop, and there's water gushing out of the train. People were screaming," he added.
The Pierce County Sheriff's office has reported multiple fatalities after an Amtrak passenger train derailed from an interstate overpass. Photos of the scene show at least one train car dangling from above the road.

The sheriff's office says that there were multiple injuries sustained by motorists on I-5, but that no fatalities were reported on the road. 

Preliminary reports indicate that the Amtrak derailment in Washington State has caused several injuries to motorists on I-5, but that there are no motorist fatalities reported so far.

The Pierce County Sheriff's Department has posted photos of the train derailment:

Welcome to our coverage of the train derailment in Washington State.

 

Washington Gov Jay Inslee offered a message of support to first responders and urged commuters to avoid the area.

“This is an ongoing and serious situation,” Mr Inslee said on Twitter.

In an image shared by the Washington State Department of Transportation, a train car can be seen hanging off of the tracks and protruding into the highway. The agency noted that all southbound lanes were blocked and urged commuters to avoid the area.