Around 7:40 this morning, the new Amtrak Cascades train derailed near Mounds Road, close to DuPont. The train left the Tacoma Dome Station, heading to Olympia and Portland, derailed off the bridge near DuPont, hitting multiple vehicles on I-5. All southbound lanes on I-5 have been closed as first responders work the scene. Firefighters/EMT and Law Enforcement from SE Thurston Fire Authority (Yelm & Rainier), Lacey Fire District #3, Olympia, Pierce County, and others are on the scene.
The Amtrak Cascades line runs from Vancouver, British Columbia through Olympia on its way to Eugene, Oregon, and is jointly managed by the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) and the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT). This specific train was part of a newly launched high-speed service between Seattle and Portland.
Photo: Washington State Police | Trooper Brooke Bova
So, what happened?
Details are still coming, but here’s what’s known so far: Around 7:40 this morning, the train, moving at nearly 80 miles per hour, derailed along the Point Defiance Bypass, spilling over the overpass onto I-5 and striking cars on the roadway. This train was running a new route with new high-speed locomotives.
Photo: Washington State Police | Trooper Brooke Bova
King5 will have updates on this story.
