South Sound News

Passenger train derails near Steilacoom; no serious injuries reported

By KIRO 7 News Staff
By KIRO 7 News Staff

Pierce Co., WASH. — More than 250 passengers evacuated an Amtrak train heading to Seattle after it derailed near the Steilacoom and Chambers Bay area. No one was seriously injured.

KIRO 7 News has crews on the scene for live team coverage on our newscast at 6:30 p.m. Watch on-air or here. Download the KIRO 7 News app for breaking information on this story.

Key developments:

  • Around 2:30 p.m, an Amtrak train 506 derailed in Steilacoom near the Chambers Bay Golf course.
  • The train was coming from the Portland area; it's operating route is from Eugene, Oregon and Vancouver, B.C. with stops in between.
  • Four of the 15 cars were off the tracks
  • See photos from the scene here.
  • 267 passengers were onboard.
  • No serious injures, but some people are reporting minor injuries.
  • Amtrak reports that passengers are bussed to the Tacoma Amtrak station. Anyone with questions for Amtrak can call 1-800-872-7245.

Real-time updates:

In the feed below, we are updating information as it comes into our newsroom.

[10:12 p.m.]

Amtrak released a statement that the Amtrak Cascades trains 506 and 509 have been canceled. Amtrak said it has notified customers and is providing alternate transportation. Passengers taking other trains in the area, including Amtrak Cascades and the Coast Starlight, should expect delays.

For more information, you can call 1-800-USA-RAIL.

[7:20 p.m.]

The Associated Press reported that Amtrak said the railroad tracks where the train derailed earlier today have been reopened. Service is at limited speeds.

[6:13 p.m.]

In a new statement, West Pierce Fire reports its firefighters prepared for a fuel spill, which can happen during incidents such as this, but there were no spill or leaks.

Washington Department of Ecology has crews on scene assessing the water.

[5:53 p.m.]

Five buses are en route to Tacoma with passengers from the derailed train.

Five buses arrived at the scene of the derailment to take passengers to Tacoma. One family told KIRO 7 News on the scene that passengers helped one another as they waited for buses.

“People were so nice. People helped carry my car seat and my bags,” said a mother with her baby.

[5:45 p.m.]

Washington Department of Ecology reports that spill crews are looking into any possible threats to water near the railroad. Meanwhile, crews are working to bring the train upright on the rails.

[5:20 p.m.]

Crews are assessing the tracks and the train that derailed. Authorities will give details on the clean-up soon.

[5 p.m.]

Photos show passengers waiting to get on buses to Seattle. Water is being passed out to people in the warm temperatures.

[4:50 p.m.]

Amtrak release statement in Twitter, saying that its team is investigating the cause.

[4:45 p.m.]

KIRO 7 News talked to a passenger on the scene. She said the train wasn't moving fast, but she felt something off before it detailed.

"The train wasn't going fast. It was relatively slow. But you knew something was off when you felt all the braking," she said.

[4:25 p.m.]

The passenger count is now 250, according to an update.  Right now, buses are taking passengers to the Amtrak station at Puyallup Avenue in Tacoma.

[3:03 p.m.] 

Passengers are being safely evacuated from the scene, the West Pierce Fire Department said.Photos posted on social media show several cars of the train tipped over on the tracks, near the waters of the bay.

Lakewood Patrol and Marine Service units are on scene assisting. According to Lakewood police it appears there are no casualties.

[3:06 p.m.]

The Gig Harbor Police Department says one of its patrol boats is helping environment officials put in pollution-control booms to block fuel from the derailment from leaking into a nearby body of water. The department posted a photo Saturday afternoon on its Twitter account showing the work.

[3:18 p.m.]

West Pierce Fire sent out a separate views of the derailment:

[3:48 p.m.]

Portions of an Amtrak passenger train have derailed near a town in Washington state's Pierce County. The Gig Harbor Police Department patrol boat began assisting with deploying pollution control booms:

Steilacoom is about 45 miles south of Seattle.

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