Authorities said at least three people were killed and dozens injured after an Amtrak train derailment, which saw rail cars plunge onto a highway in Washington.
The train was making its inaugural trip on a new service from Seattle to Portland, OR, when several rail cars left the track and landed on Interstate 5 below, damaging several moving vehicles.
Two rail cars were left dangling over the side of the bridge over the I-5.
Aside from the three fatalities, ‘there are a lot of critical injuries,’ police spokeswoman Brooke Bova said.
The cause is still unknown but it is thought the train was traveling at up to 81 mph as it approached the curve.
Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board arrived at the scene late Monday.
Railroad owner Sound Transit said the track did not yet have sensors which could have enabled positive train control to automatically reduce the train’s speed as it neared the curve.
"On behalf of everyone at Amtrak, we are deeply saddened by all that has happened. We will do everything in our power to support our passengers and crew and their families," said Amtrak co-CEO Richard Anderson.
Meanwhile, Alaska Airlines has it would cut fares on its Seattle-Portland route through Tuesday, with prices lowered by more than half to $99.
Alaska warned customers that due to a website glitch, there is an error displaying the new fare but it does show up when paying for flights at customer check-out
Delta Air Lines said it will allow passengers a one-time free change for those traveling to or from Seattle on Tuesday.
