There was a major train derailment yesterday close to where I live where a high-speed Amtrak train, on that line's inaugural voyage, jumped the track on a bridge crossing over I-5 between Tacoma and Olympia, killing at least three people and injuring dozens. Right now, southbound 5 is closed, which is a problem since its a major freeway and goes through a bottleneck (the water is on one side and Joint Base Lewis-McChord is on the other). Traffic actually got so bad yesterday on the most common alternate route that a 65 mile detour over the Tacoma Narrows Bridge and onto the Kitsap Peninsula was faster.
Right now, they're clearing the site and moving the cars and bodies to JBLM, and the NTSB is studying the wreckage there. They don't know the exact cause yet, and we probably won't see a report for months, but it is known the train was doing 80 in a 30 mph zone and the track was only recently upgraded to handle passenger trains (it previously only handled freight).
I feel we should all put our thoughts and prayers to the victims and their families, and to everyone who volunteered to clear up the mess.
Right now, they're clearing the site and moving the cars and bodies to JBLM, and the NTSB is studying the wreckage there. They don't know the exact cause yet, and we probably won't see a report for months, but it is known the train was doing 80 in a 30 mph zone and the track was only recently upgraded to handle passenger trains (it previously only handled freight).
I feel we should all put our thoughts and prayers to the victims and their families, and to everyone who volunteered to clear up the mess.