Gov. Jay Inslee declares state of emergency after train derailment
Dec 18, 2017, 12:31 PM
Cars from an Amtrak train lay spilled onto Interstate 5 below as some train cars remain on the tracks above Monday, Dec. 18, 2017, in DuPont, Wash. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
(AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Washington state Governor Jay Inslee declared a state of emergency Monday morning after a deadly train wreck that killed at least six people.
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>>Passenger describes train ride before deadly derailment
The train derailed around 7:40 a.m. on I-5 near Dupont. At least one train car came to a rest upside-down on I-5. There were approximately 78 passenger and five crew members on board.
Southbound I-5 at milepost 117 is expected to remain closed well into Monday evening, or longer.
“Today’s tragic incident in Pierce County is a serious and ongoing emergency,” Inslee wrote in the declaration. “Trudi and I are holding in our hearts everyone on board, and are praying for the many injured.
“They are our top priority, and I know first responders are doing everything to ensure everyone has the care they need.”
