This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/americas/8114003.stm
The article has changed 28 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
Next version
| Version 26 | Version 27 |
|---|---|
| US train crash deaths confirmed | US train crash deaths confirmed |
| (1 day later) | |
| Nine people have been killed and about 70 injured in a subway train collision in Washington DC, say Metro officials. | Nine people have been killed and about 70 injured in a subway train collision in Washington DC, say Metro officials. |
| Two critically injured people remained in hospital on Tuesday morning after the crash during evening rush hour on Monday, said city mayor Adrian Fenty. | Two critically injured people remained in hospital on Tuesday morning after the crash during evening rush hour on Monday, said city mayor Adrian Fenty. |
| Carriages of one of the trains came to rest on top of the other after a moving train hit a stationary vehicle above ground near a station. | Carriages of one of the trains came to rest on top of the other after a moving train hit a stationary vehicle above ground near a station. |
| The female driver of the moving train was among the dead. | The female driver of the moving train was among the dead. |
| On Tuesday, Metro spokeswoman Candace Smith said two men and seven women had died, confirming early reports of the number of fatalities. | On Tuesday, Metro spokeswoman Candace Smith said two men and seven women had died, confirming early reports of the number of fatalities. |
| She said that five bodies had been recovered from the wreckage on Tuesday, in addition to the four removed on Monday. | She said that five bodies had been recovered from the wreckage on Tuesday, in addition to the four removed on Monday. |
| The death toll had been revised down for several hours on Tuesday after Mr Fenty said just seven people had been killed. | The death toll had been revised down for several hours on Tuesday after Mr Fenty said just seven people had been killed. |
| The crash - the worst in the 33 years of the Metro system - happened above ground between Fort Totten and Takoma at 1700 local time (2200 BST). | The crash - the worst in the 33 years of the Metro system - happened above ground between Fort Totten and Takoma at 1700 local time (2200 BST). |
| Passenger Maya Maroto, who was on board the moving train, said it had been going "full speed". | Passenger Maya Maroto, who was on board the moving train, said it had been going "full speed". |
| "I didn't hear any braking. Everything was just going normally. Then there was a very loud impact. We all fell out of our seats. | "I didn't hear any braking. Everything was just going normally. Then there was a very loud impact. We all fell out of our seats. |
| "Then the train filled up with smoke. I was coughing," she told the Associated Press (AP). | "Then the train filled up with smoke. I was coughing," she told the Associated Press (AP). |
| Passenger Jodie Wickett told CNN she had been sitting on one of the six-car trains, sending text messages on her phone, when she felt the impact. | Passenger Jodie Wickett told CNN she had been sitting on one of the six-car trains, sending text messages on her phone, when she felt the impact. |
| She said: "From that point on, it happened so fast, I flew out of the seat and hit my head." | She said: "From that point on, it happened so fast, I flew out of the seat and hit my head." |
| I thought it was like the train bombings in London. There was smoke and dust everywhere Passenger Abra Jeffers In pictures: US train crash | I thought it was like the train bombings in London. There was smoke and dust everywhere Passenger Abra Jeffers In pictures: US train crash |
| Ms Wickett said she stayed at the scene and tried to help. | Ms Wickett said she stayed at the scene and tried to help. |
| She added: "People are just in very bad shape. The people that were hurt, the ones that could speak, were calling back as we called out to them. | She added: "People are just in very bad shape. The people that were hurt, the ones that could speak, were calling back as we called out to them. |
| "Lots of people were upset and crying, but there were no screams." | "Lots of people were upset and crying, but there were no screams." |
| President Barack Obama said in a statement: "Michelle and I were saddened by the terrible accident in north-east Washington DC. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families and friends affected by this tragedy. See a map of the crash site | President Barack Obama said in a statement: "Michelle and I were saddened by the terrible accident in north-east Washington DC. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families and friends affected by this tragedy. See a map of the crash site |
| "I want to thank the brave first responders who arrived immediately to save lives." | "I want to thank the brave first responders who arrived immediately to save lives." |
| Washington fire chief Dennis Rubin said approximately 200 firefighters were at the scene of the accident. | Washington fire chief Dennis Rubin said approximately 200 firefighters were at the scene of the accident. |
| He said 76 people were treated at the scene and six of those were sent to hospital with critical injuries. | He said 76 people were treated at the scene and six of those were sent to hospital with critical injuries. |
| 'Deadliest accident' | 'Deadliest accident' |
| He said the majority were walking wounded. | He said the majority were walking wounded. |
| On Tuesday morning, Mr Fenty said two of the patients with critical injuries remained in hospital. | On Tuesday morning, Mr Fenty said two of the patients with critical injuries remained in hospital. |
| The crash had been "the deadliest accident in the history of our Metro train transit system", the mayor said. | The crash had been "the deadliest accident in the history of our Metro train transit system", the mayor said. |
| The dead driver was named as Jeanice McMillan, 42, by the Associated Press (AP) and the Washington Post. | The dead driver was named as Jeanice McMillan, 42, by the Associated Press (AP) and the Washington Post. |
| Survivors of the crash describe the accident | Survivors of the crash describe the accident |
| BBC correspondent Richard Lister said it was possible people were still trapped in the lower of the two train carriages. | BBC correspondent Richard Lister said it was possible people were still trapped in the lower of the two train carriages. |
| During the press conference, Mr Rubin said a large crane had been used to separate mangled pieces of wreckage so that rescuers could search for injured or dead. | During the press conference, Mr Rubin said a large crane had been used to separate mangled pieces of wreckage so that rescuers could search for injured or dead. |
| Mr Rubin had earlier said parts of the lower carriage were 70 to 80% compressed, and that rescuers did not know if there were still more bodies to be found. | Mr Rubin had earlier said parts of the lower carriage were 70 to 80% compressed, and that rescuers did not know if there were still more bodies to be found. |
| A thorough search of the sidings and surrounding woodland had been made, he said. | A thorough search of the sidings and surrounding woodland had been made, he said. |
| The general manager of the Washington subway, John Catoe, said the crash had happened as one train waited for another to clear a station ahead. | The general manager of the Washington subway, John Catoe, said the crash had happened as one train waited for another to clear a station ahead. |
| He said: "The next train came up behind [the waiting train] and, for reasons we do not know, ploughed into the back. | He said: "The next train came up behind [the waiting train] and, for reasons we do not know, ploughed into the back. |
| "We are committed to investigate this accident until we determine why this happened and what must be done to ensure it never happens again." | "We are committed to investigate this accident until we determine why this happened and what must be done to ensure it never happens again." |
| The accident happened at the peak of rush hour on a busy commuter line. | The accident happened at the peak of rush hour on a busy commuter line. |
| But the trains involved were heading towards the centre of Washington rather than to the city's outlying areas. | But the trains involved were heading towards the centre of Washington rather than to the city's outlying areas. |
| This meant they were likely to have had fewer people on them, AP quoted Debbie Hersman of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). | This meant they were likely to have had fewer people on them, AP quoted Debbie Hersman of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). |
| 'Older train' | 'Older train' |
| Investigators were trying to find recorders which would have details of the train's speed at the time of the crash and other information which could explain how the accident happened. | Investigators were trying to find recorders which would have details of the train's speed at the time of the crash and other information which could explain how the accident happened. |
| She also said the train which had crashed was part of a fleet of older carriages which transport chiefs had recommended be either replaced or retrofitted, AP reported. | She also said the train which had crashed was part of a fleet of older carriages which transport chiefs had recommended be either replaced or retrofitted, AP reported. |
| Passenger Abra Jeffers, 25, told the AFP news agency: "I was on the train that got hit. I thought it was an explosion. I thought it was like the train bombings in London. There was smoke and dust everywhere." | Passenger Abra Jeffers, 25, told the AFP news agency: "I was on the train that got hit. I thought it was an explosion. I thought it was like the train bombings in London. There was smoke and dust everywhere." |
| Fellow passenger Theroza Doshi told the Reuters news agency: "It just happened. There was no slowing down of the train, just a jerk. | Fellow passenger Theroza Doshi told the Reuters news agency: "It just happened. There was no slowing down of the train, just a jerk. |
| "There was no attempt at braking. We just slammed into whatever we slammed into." | "There was no attempt at braking. We just slammed into whatever we slammed into." |
| The accident is the Metro network's first crash with a passenger fatality since 1982 when three people were killed in a derailment. | The accident is the Metro network's first crash with a passenger fatality since 1982 when three people were killed in a derailment. |
| Click here to return | Click here to return |