Monday, December 18, 2017

Deadly Train Derailment Likely Caused By Object 'Placed On The Tracks'




Deadly Train Derailment Likely Caused By Object "Placed On The Tracks": AP



Update: 
As we mentioned lower in the boss, Monday’s deadly Amtrak train derailment in Washington state appears to have been caused by an object on the railway, according to a government official briefed on the crash.
The Associated Press reported that officials arrived at this conclusion following a brief investigation.

A preliminary investigation suggests maintenance problems are unlikely to blame because the incident took place on brand-new tracks, the official told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

At least six people were killed and the death toll is expected to rise, the official said.

The Amtrak 501 plunged off an overpass onto I-5 near Lacey, Washington, sometime before 7:45 a.m., during its inaugural run between Seattle, Washington, and Portland, Oregon.

During an afternoon briefing on his national security strategy, President Trump expressed “our deepest sympathies and most heartfelt prayers for the victims,” adding: “We are closely monitoring the situation and coordinating with local authorities.”
To be sure, this is still a preliminary finding. At a press conference Monday, representatives from the NTSB said the investigation is ongoing...
However, comments from one local mayor who warned that the Amtrak project could jeapordize the safety of local are picking up more traction as the day goes on. We first noted the comments from Lakewood Mayor Don Anderson below. As it turns out, Anderson had raised safety concerns over the new itinerary, even predicting earlier this month that the new faster route would lead to fatal accidents.
Anderson had raised safety concerns over the new itinerary, even predicting earlier this month that the new faster route would lead to fatal accidents.
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Update: A local official has reportedly told the Associated Press that preliminary signs suggest that the Amtrak train may have struck something on the track before derailing...
To recap, there were 78 passengers and five crew members aboard when the train, moving at more than 80 mph, derailed about 40 miles (64 kilometers) south of Seattle before 8 am local time.
Trump offered more words of support for the victims of today's crash during public comments about the US's security strategy Monday afternoon.
Meanwhile, the NTSB said it's launching a "go team" to further investigate...


* * *
Update: President Trump has offered his condolences to the victims of the crash and their families. He also tweeted that the crash "shows more than ever why our soon to be submitted infrastructure plan must be approved quickly."



The White House is reportedly gearing up to introduce a $1 trillion infrastructure plan to rebuild America's roads and bridges shortly after the new year.
* * *
Update: The death toll has risen to six, according to local media reports. Meanwhile, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee has declared a state of emergency as first responders are still struggling to process the scene of the accident.
Providence St. Peter Hospital received 10 patients from the derailment, according to spokesperson Chris Thomas. Of those patients, two are still in surgery at the time. The other eight patients did not require surgery, and are being treated in the emergency room, according to Thomas.
Inslee's state of emergency order means state agencies and departments will be able to tap into state resources in order to "do everything reasonably possible to assist affected political subdivisions in an effort to respond to and recover from the incidents."



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