Los Angeles: At least three people died after an Amtrak passenger train derailed in Washington state near Tacoma city, DuPont Fire Chief Larry Creekmore said on Monday morning.
The train was carrying 78 passengers and five crew. More than 100 people were taken to hospitals, Creekmore said as per a report by CNN.
The train was part of a newly expanded faster rail service along the route linking Seattle and Portland.
“There are multiple fatalities,” said Ed Troyer, spokesman for the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department. “It’s pretty horrific,” he said.
“When we got to the scene, it was obvious there were fatalities and injuries, and some people were able to get off the train,” Troyer said. “No fatalities on the roadway. As you can see by the large response, we have taken them out and people that were able to walk are under the tents being cared for by multiple groups,” he added.
Photographs posted online from the scene showed multiple cars, on a busy highway that connects Olympia to Seattle metro area, having been spilt by the train.
“All of a sudden, we felt this rocking and creaking noise, and it felt like we were heading down a hill,” said a passenger Chris Karnes, adding that several cars had gone off the tracks and passengers broke the windows to escape.
“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.” Karnes said.
With agencies inputs