Posted on 12/18/2017 8:44:10 AM PST by ImJustAnotherOkie
(KOMO) — PIERCE COUNTY, Wash. - All southbound lanes of Interstate 5 are closed south of Joint Base Lewis-McChord after an Amtrak train derailed and fell off an overpass onto the freeway. Some injuries have been reported. View image on Twitter View image on Twitter
Chris Karnes 🌹 @TacomaTransit The train has derailed. Emergency crews are on the scene. Massive damage. People are hurt. 10:01 AM - Dec 18, 2017 24 24 Replies 119 119 Retweets 30 30 likes Twitter Ads info and privacy
Motorists are being warned to avoid the area. "I was just shocked," said Peter Zimmerman of Olympia. "I couldn't believe it. It was like something out of a movie." State transportation officials say the train derailed near Mounts Road. View image on TwitterView image on Twitter
Danae Orlob @naenae007 @komonews 9:55 AM - Dec 18, 2017 12 12 Replies 9 9 Retweets 4 4 likes Twitter Ads info and privacy
View image on Twitter View image on Twitter
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! 9:45 AM - Dec 18, 2017 33 33 Replies 470 470 Retweets 118 118 likes Twitter Ads info and privacy Amtrak officials said the train was the No. 501, which operates between Seattle and Portland. The train had just begun using a new high-speed route Monday morning. Lakewood city oficials had earlier expressed fears that the new route would cause serious accidents.
Amtrak service south of Seattle is temporarily suspended. Service from Seattle to points north and east is continuing to operate.
Similar Train set 6 months ago:
http://www.kiro7.com/news/photos-amtrak-passenger-train-derails-near-steilacoom/547803194
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>> “An Amtrak train fell on a freeway?”
>> “That can’t be good.”
LOL!
Have you considered going to work for CNN?
.
If that many have been sent to the hospital, who are the folks in grey blankets? Motorists?
Wrapped in grey blankets walking around are probably motorists. Could simply be people who are cold.
MULTIPLE eyewitness reports that the train was speeding...
Multiple reports that the accident happened before the first responders arrived.
The last Acela I took to DC spent over a half hour totally stalled in that swamp area, with no explanation given. I was left asking why I had paid more for it or chosen it over air travel.
MULTIPLE eyewitness reports that the train was speeding...
It was a new, high-speed train. Maiden trip. Was it going faster than its designated speed (before it derailed)?
then I have to question why we even have such trains. Accela
in the DC-NY corridor might make sense, based on ridership.
The Sounder and light rail make sense here here (incredibly congested roads and no room to expand I5 through downtown Seattle)but the pax rail service beyond Sea-Tac seems like a questionable expenditure.
Folks who can wait for care/transpo. Looks like they’re being well taken care of, too...
Oh my..how terrible..prayers lifted up!
KIRO-TV: 78 passengers and five crew members were on-board. This is the second Amtrak derailment this year in Pierce County.
Yeah, it looks like the front of the train didn’t want to go around the bend.
I would think there would be at least 20 engineers, politicians, managers, etc. for the maiden voyage.
If the train slowed to 18 to cross the bridge, but then the rear engine kicked in erroneously too soon and pushed it back up to 79, the ‘speeding’ eyewitnesses are describing?
Yeah, it looks like the front of the train didn’t want to go around the bend.
10 minutes late leaving SEA too. Nice PR move, Amtrak
The rear engine pushing would explain the accordian effect. It would also explain how all those cars stopped without a massive pile-up.
I think the Front engine looking thing in this case is just a shell control station. All of the motive power likely comes from the Amtrak Loco still sitting on the tracks.
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