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This was an inaugural ride on a new line installed to cut down commuting time and it carried more than 80 passengers. The derailment caused several train cars to tumble from a highway overpass, killing at least 6 people.
At least 77 people were taken to four local hospitals--two are in critical condition and 11 are in serious condition. Of these, one person was taken to surgery.
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee declared a state of emergency after Amtrak train 501 derailed along Interstate 5 as it was leaving the new Tacoma station. A U.S. official told the Associated Press the death toll is expected to rise and track obstruction is being investigated as a possible cause of the derailment.
Amtrak 501 was traveling southbound from Seattle when it derailed. According to Washington State Trooper Brooke Bova, 13 train cars jumped the tracks.
President Trump tweeted politically: "The train accident that just occurred in DuPont, WA shows more than ever why our soon to be submitted infrastructure plan must be approved quickly. Seven trillion dollars spent in the Middle East while our roads, bridges, tunnels, railways (and more) crumble! Not for long!"
In a follow-up tweet the President wrote: "My thoughts and prayers are with everyone involved in the train accident in DuPont,Washington. Thank you to all of our wonderful First Responders who are on the scene. We are currently monitoring here at the White House."
Police had earlier reported that several automobiles were struck by the train cars injuring multiple driver on the highway below, but no motorists' deaths were reported, according to Pierce County officials.
Amtrak reported 78 passengers and five crew were aboard the train, part of its "Cascades" service from Seattle to Portland.
A highway camera showed that at least one train car toppled onto the road below and one car dangled from the overpass.
It will take the entire day to clear the debris.
The train was going 81.1 mph just before the derailment according to transitdocs.com. The maximum speed on that stretch of track in 79 mph and the engineer likely got an warning beep indicating he was over the limit.
"First responders actually climbed up into the dangling cars to get people out," Wendy Simmons told O13Fox. She arrived on scene just after the derailment. "People were pulling first aid kits out of their cars--putting jackets on people."
The accident came just two weeks after Lakewood mayor Don Anderson made the comment that it was only a matter of time a deadly derailment will occur, according to KOMO News. He advocated for grade separations to protect people from trains.
Anderson is not a suspect in the cause of the accident.
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