Amtrak train derailment in Washington state reportedly a 'mass casualty incident'.

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Grand Master

Mockingbird

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DUPONT, Wash. -- An Amtrak train has derailed on an overpass in Washington, authorities said Monday. At this time, all lanes of traffic remain blocked on Interstate 5. 

 

The Washington State Department of Transportation tweeted a photo of the derailment, urging motorists to avoid the area. 

 

CBS News affiliate KIRO-TV reports first responders are treating the derailment as a mass casualty incident. Authorities have not yet provided details on injuries. 

 

Amtrak train 501 was part of a service that launched Monday morning. The service was supposed to be rated for a maximum speed of 79 mph for the section where it derailed in DuPont, according to passenger Chris Karnes. 

 

Karnes, who was on board the train when it derailed, said at least seven cars derailed from the tracks. The emergency doors were not functioning correctly, which forced passengers to kick out train windows to exit. 

 

"We had just passed the city of DuPont and it seemed like we were going around a curve," Karnes said. "All of a sudden, we felt this rocking and creaking noise, and it felt like we were heading down a hill. 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." 

 

"The tracks for this line were supposed to be upgraded to be able to handle higher speeds," he continued. "I'm not sure what happened at this juncture."

 

The cause of the derailment remains under investigation. 

 

Source: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/amtrak-train-derailment-tacoma-washington-traffic-today-live-updates/

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Grand Master

DocM

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Reports here this was a newly redone track. Someone has a lot of explaining to do.

 

At least 6 dead

 

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/train-derails-from-bridge-onto-interstate-5-near-olympia/

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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.

 

12182017_newtrainphotos_0916402-768x572.thumb.jpg.841f784cb37af8c979dc475f4d5cc29c.jpg

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Grand Master

DocM

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2 hours ago, FloatingFatMan said:

Sabotage, maybe? The train was reportedly doing 80mph, so something on the tracks would do this...

There have been several reports of foreign objects on the track, and reports that IS and anarchist groups have included rail sabotage tips in their literature.

 

Anyone see Samuel L. walking the tracks with a glass cane & toolbox?  (sorry, had to)

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Grand Master

techbeck

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18 minutes ago, DocM said:

There have been several reports of foreign objects on the track, and reports that IS and anarchist groups have included rail sabotage tips in their literature.

 

Everything is because of ISIS these days.  Something bad happens, ISIS.  This is not the first Amtrak disaster over the past several years either.  One was last year.  Amtrak needs to get their ###### together.

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wakjak

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11 hours ago, techbeck said:

Everything is because of ISIS these days.  Something bad happens, ISIS.  This is not the first Amtrak disaster over the past several years either.  One was last year.  Amtrak needs to get their ###### together.

And some idiots on the right are claiming antifa did it as well... 

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Grand Master

techbeck

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15 minutes ago, Jim K said:

 

That'd do it.  Now, time find out why it was going that fast (human or mechanical error)

Was another amtrak crash where they were going twice the limit as well.   Was a few years ago.

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Dick Montage

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7 minutes ago, wakjak said:

Hopefully the driver gets whatever charges could be coming to him.

Assuming the driver was at fault.  Could have been a mechanical reason outside his control that caused such speed.  Either way, punishment is not the focus right now.

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Ryster

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42 minutes ago, wakjak said:

Hopefully the driver gets whatever charges could be coming to him.

There should be systems in place to prevent a driver from being able to make such a mistake.  Last article I read said that the train control system designed to do just that was not functional on this train.

 

Even if the driver made the mistake, Amtrak are just as culpable. Had the driver received the necessary training to run that new stretch of track? Who knows. It's not always clear cut.

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FloatingFatMan

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3 hours ago, Ryster said:

There should be systems in place to prevent a driver from being able to make such a mistake.  Last article I read said that the train control system designed to do just that was not functional on this train.

 

Even if the driver made the mistake, Amtrak are just as culpable. Had the driver received the necessary training to run that new stretch of track? Who knows. It's not always clear cut.

Both should face charges if this comes down to anything not a mechanical fault.

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Grand Master

techbeck

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2 hours ago, FloatingFatMan said:

Both should face charges if this comes down to anything not a mechanical fault.

Amtrak's safety record is being questioned now and looked at closely.  Technical fault is still their fault.  Sounds like they need better quality checks and testing.

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Grand Master

DocM

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1 hour ago, techbeck said:

Amtrak's safety record is being questioned now and looked at closely.  Technical fault is still their fault.  Sounds like they need better quality checks and testing.

Sounds like a job for automation, just like new cars are going to be self driving a lot sooner than people think. Self-driving cars are already legal and under pretty heavy testing here in Michigan.

 

Just in time for the Loop and Hyperloop projects that are getting started in Los Angeles (digging), from New York to Washington DC through Baltimore (Maryland has approved), and the proposed Loop link in Chicago connecting O'Hare Airport to the rest of their mass transit (in RFP)

 

Loop: up to 125 mph car and people transit tunnels.

 

Hyperloop:  up to 800 mph passenger & cargo tunnels.

 

 

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