Three people were killed and a further 77 injured.
Last night it was reported that an Amtrak train carrying approximately 78 passengers and five crew members had derailed 64km outside Seattle, Washington state.
The incident took place at on Monday morning, 7.40am Pacific Time, when the train derailed while crossing a bridge over an interstate, which resulted in two carriages crashing into the freeway below.
Since then, The Seattle Times have reported that Barbara LaBoe, the state transportation department spokesperson, announced that the train travelling at 81 mph on a route that’s approved for a 79 mph maximum speed, the curve upon which the derailment occurred had a speed limit of 30 mph.
An investigation into the incident has already been announced.
NTSB is launching a go-team to investigate the Amtrak passenger train derailment in the State of Washington. Team will depart DC today. Additional information to follow when available.
— NTSB Newsroom (@NTSB_Newsroom) December 18, 2017
The primary focus of the investigation will most likely involve why the train was travelling almost three times the declared safety speed limit at the point in the course, as well as looking into why the Positive Train Control – the technology on-board that is used to slow down or stop a train that is travelling too fast – was not in effect on the part of the track where the derailment took place, as was reported by The Atlantic.
LISTEN: You Must Be Jokin’ with Aideen McQueen – Faith healers, Coolock craic and Gigging as Gaeilge
