Amtrak Train Wreck Leaves Six Dead, At Least 50 Hospitalized

By Andrea Ruth | 4:06 PM on December 18, 2017

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Cars from an Amtrak train lay spilled onto Interstate 5 below alongside smashed vehicles as some train cars remain on the tracks above Monday, Dec. 18, 2017, in DuPont, Wash. The Amtrak train making the first-ever run along a faster new route hurtled off the overpass Monday near Tacoma and spilled some of its cars onto the highway below, killing some people, authorities said. Seventy-eight passengers and five crew members were aboard when the train moving at more than 80 mph derailed about 40 miles south of Seattle before 8 a.m., Amtrak said. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

The derailment of an Amtrak train on its inaugural trip has left six people dead and at least 50 more hospitalized. A total of 70 people on the train and driving along Interstate 5 in Washington state on Monday morning were injured.

PLEASE SHARE: Bloodworks Northwest is asking for help following an Amtrak train derailment onto I-5 that has left 6 people dead and at least 70 injured. https://t.co/GnVHrAVBCi #I5MountsTrain #AmtrakDerailment pic.twitter.com/HjBgEDRRp0

— KIRO 7 (@KIRO7Seattle) December 18, 2017

According to the Associated Press,

An official briefed on the investigation told The Associated Press that preliminary signs indicate that Train 501 may have struck something before going off the track about 40 miles (64 kilometers) south of Seattle. The official was not authorized to discuss the investigation publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity.

President Trump tweeted about the wreck and used the moment to emphasize his infrastructure proposal before tweeting out condolences to those injured…10 minutes later.

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!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 18, 2017

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.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 18, 2017