A day after a power failure at Atlanta's Hartsfield Jackson Airport - the busiest terminal in the world - left thousands of passengers stranded with flights only just beginning to resume, America's crumbling infrastructure was on display yet again on Monday, but this time, the failure looks much more severe.
To wit, Amtrak train 501 derailed in Pierce County, about 40 miles south of Seattle, according to media reports and images showing the train tumbling off the tracks and on to the freeway below. The derailment happened at around 8 am local time - or 11 am Eastern.
Developing: Amtrak train derails near Seattle onto the I-5 freeway https://t.co/TNgCis4elC pic.twitter.com/oCCT9pfC58
— CNBC Now (@CNBCnow) December 18, 2017
Images of the mangled wreckage flooded social media...
The section of the I-5 freeway where the train derailed was quickly closed to traffic...
***DRIVER AlERT*** All lanes of SB I-5 at Mounts Road closed
— WSDOT Tacoma Traffic (@wsdot_tacoma) December 18, 2017
Here's a livefeed of the scene, courtesy of CBS
The accident caused “massive damage” and “people are hurt,” according to Chris Karnes, the chairman of Pierce Transit’s advisory board. Police said information about injuries would be forthcoming.
PRELIMINARY INFO - Derailed Amtrak passenger train was heading south bound. Injuries and casualties reported, numbers to come. Media staging area at Eagles Pride Golf Course. #PCSD PIO Troyer enroute, will not answer his cell while driving priority.
— Pierce Co Sheriff (@PierceSheriff) December 18, 2017
Amtrak said in a tweet that it's "aware of the incident" and will update with additional details...
We are aware of an incident involving Amtrak train 501. We will update with additional details as they become available.
— Amtrak (@Amtrak) December 18, 2017
"I was just shocked," said Peter Zimmerman of Olympia. "I couldn't believe it. It was like something out of a movie." According to the local TV station, the train was traveling along a new high speed route that had just opened Monday.