3 Killed, 77 injured as Amtrak Washington train crashes and carriages fall on US Motorway

A US passenger train on its inaugural run in Washington state has derailed with carriages crashing on to the motorway below during the morning rush hour.

According to officials, three people died as fatalities could rise and 100 injured on board the train which hit vehicles on the 1-5 highway below.

The Amtrak Train 501 on its first high-speed service had left Seattle, heading south for Portland at 6:00 local time (14:00 GMT) as the derailment happened on a section of track south of Tacoma, previously used exclusively for freight trains.

There were 77 passengers and seven crew members on board, according to Amtrak and more than 100 people were sent to local hospital, with dozens suffering from critical and serious injuries, some needing surgery. Donald Trump Tweeted saying “The train accident that just occurred in DuPont, WA shows more than ever why our soon to be submitted infrastructure plan must be approved quickly. Seven trillion dollars spent in the Middle East while our roads, bridges, Tunnels, railways (and more) crumble! Not for long Thoughts and prayers are with everyone involved.”

The train was travelling at 80 mph in a 30-mph zone when it left the tracks as it entered a curve, according to preliminary data from the National Transportation Safety Board.