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| Amtrak Washington train crash: Deaths as carriages fall on US motorway | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Train carriages have plummeted on to a motorway in Washington state, causing "multiple" fatalities, police say. | Train carriages have plummeted on to a motorway in Washington state, causing "multiple" fatalities, police say. |
| The train derailed and the carriages fell on to the I-5 highway below. | The train derailed and the carriages fell on to the I-5 highway below. |
| Images from the scene show that all the carriages of the high speed train appear to have left the track. | |
| It was Amtrak's first passenger service to run on a new, shorter route, connecting Olympia and Tacoma. Train 501 had left Seattle, heading south for Portland, at 0600 local time. | |
| Latest updates | Latest updates |
| Washington's governor has declared a state of emergency in two counties. | |
| Pierce County Sheriff's department spokesman Ed Troyer said that there were "multiple" fatalities on the train but no motorists had been killed. | |
| The fire department had taken many people out of the train and they had been taken to hospitals, he added. | The fire department had taken many people out of the train and they had been taken to hospitals, he added. |
| Several cars on the highway were struck by the derailed carriages. Aerial images showed the train's carriages littered across the ground, on both sides of the bridge carrying the railway over the motorway. | |
| Passenger Chris Karnes, on board the train, said the carriage he was on had careened down an embankment then came to a stop: "We could hear and feel the cars crumpling and breaking apart, and water came out from the ceiling." | Passenger Chris Karnes, on board the train, said the carriage he was on had careened down an embankment then came to a stop: "We could hear and feel the cars crumpling and breaking apart, and water came out from the ceiling." |
| "In order to get out... we had to kick out the emergency window," he added. | "In order to get out... we had to kick out the emergency window," he added. |
| Amtrak said approximately 78 passengers and five crew members had been on board the train. | Amtrak said approximately 78 passengers and five crew members had been on board the train. |
| Governor Jay Inslee said he was praying for the many injured. | Governor Jay Inslee said he was praying for the many injured. |
| The incident happened near DuPont, which is southwest of Tacoma. | The incident happened near DuPont, which is southwest of Tacoma. |
| Officials have set up a family reunification centre at DuPont city hall, and asked people not to come to the scene of the crash. | Officials have set up a family reunification centre at DuPont city hall, and asked people not to come to the scene of the crash. |
| Before the crash, the train was travelling at more than 80mph (130km/h). | Before the crash, the train was travelling at more than 80mph (130km/h). |
| The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating. | The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating. |
| Are you in Washington? Did you witness the train crash? If it's safe to share your experiences then please email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Are you in Washington? Did you witness the train crash? If it's safe to share your experiences then please email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or use the form below | Or use the form below |