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posted by martyb on Tuesday December 19 2017, @12:57AM   Printer-friendly

Report: At least 6 dead after Amtrak train derails from bridge onto Interstate 5 near Olympia

Several people were killed Monday morning when an Amtrak train derailed and fell off a bridge over Interstate 5 near Mounts Road between Lakewood and Olympia. The Associated Press, citing an unnamed U.S. official, reported that at least six people were killed in the crash. Gov. Jay Inslee has called a state of emergency in response to the derailment.

Pierce County Sheriff's spokesman Ed Troyer told news media that there were fatalities on the train and that motorists had been injured, but not killed. A total of 77 people were sent to hospitals in Pierce and Thurston counties, according to CHI Franciscan Health, which operates numerous hospitals in Western Washington. Four of the injured are "level red" patients, with critical injuries. The injured are being taken to St. Joseph Medical Center in Tacoma, St. Claire Hospital in Lakewood, St. Anthony Hospital in Gig Harbor and Tacoma General Hospital and Providence St. Peter Hospital in Olympia.

There were 78 passengers and five crew members on the train when it derailed, according to Amtrak.

The train was running on a new, faster service route using a new bypass. This was the first day that the new route was used.

Also at CNN. Amtrak statement about service disruption.


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  • (Score: 3, Informative) by isostatic on Wednesday December 20 2017, @12:48AM (2 children)

    by isostatic (365) on Wednesday December 20 2017, @12:48AM (#612086) Journal

    In the UK we decided against building new level crossings years ago. We still have 1500 of them as the rail infrastructure dates back 150 years (and another 5000 which aren't public highways -- footpaths, farm tracks etc), and have a policy to replace where possible. We do have trams running on streets though, but they operate with a 'stop in the area you can see is clear' process

    Generally trains run at 100mph+, level crossings are bad things to have. It's like having a cross roads on a freeway. Grade separation is key. This is especially true in places in america where freight trains can take minutes to pass a crossing - that just encourages risks due to the high reward.

    Either way it looks like the cause of this (going too fast) was very similar to the Croydon tram crash a few weeks ago, and level crossing, overpass, or not, makes no difference.

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  • (Score: 2) by kazzie on Wednesday December 20 2017, @01:54PM (1 child)

    by kazzie (5309) Subscriber Badge on Wednesday December 20 2017, @01:54PM (#612286)

    Fine knowledgable points, but one minor clarification: The Croydon Tram Crash didn't happen a few weeks ago, it was over a year ago. The final investigation report was published two weeks ago, which may be what you had in mind.

    • (Score: 2) by isostatic on Wednesday December 20 2017, @06:06PM

      by isostatic (365) on Wednesday December 20 2017, @06:06PM (#612421) Journal

      Probably so. Also as I get older time becomes compressed :(