Here's What we Know — and Don't Know — About the Amtrak Train Derailment Near Olympia

(TNS) - As federal investigators piece together what caused an Amtrak train to derail near Olympia, killing several passengers and injuring dozens more, we’ve compiled what we know so far.

Our reporting began early Monday, with reporters and photographers stationed across the Pierce County area, hearing stories from survivors and gathering details on the crash.

This is a rundown of our notes:

Who:

• At least three train passengers have died, according to the Washington State Patrol.
• The train carried about 80 passengers and seven crew members when it derailed, Amtrak officials said.
• On the freeway, five vehicles and two semi-trucks were damaged by the falling train cars and debris, officials said.
• Between the drivers and train passengers, roughly 100 people were taken to local hospitals, a number of them with critical injuries, said Washington State Patrol Trooper Brooke Bova. As of Monday night, several remained hospitalized.
• Survivors are sharing stories of how they escaped the scene, some of whom were inside the derailed train cars, while witnesses are recalling how they rushed to help victims.

What:

• Monday morning was the first time Amtrak trains used the new Point Defiance Bypass route intended to shave 10 minutes off the trip from Seattle to Portland.
• The tracks are owned by Sound Transit, which managed the recent track-upgrade work under an agreement with the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT).
• Lakewood Mayor Don Anderson said his city had fought against the new rail line, citing safety concerns.

When:

• The Amtrak Cascades 501 left Seattle for Portland at 6 a.m., according to Amtrak.
• The train derailed around 7:30 a.m.
• Aerial images show all 12 rail cars and one of two engines jumped the tracks.
• The rescue effort spanned hours. The train’s precarious position complicated initial search efforts for victims by emergency responders.
• Meanwhile, miles of vehicles on Interstate 5 became gridlocked. The traffic spilled to surrounding communities.
• Around 12:30 p.m., WSDOT began diverting southbound traffic through Joint Base Lewis-McChord, which opened a road on its perimeter to general traffic.
• A family reunification center with donated meals and water was open to survivors throughout the morning at DuPont City Hall.

Where:

• The train derailed from a bridge onto I-5 near Mounts Road between Lakewood and Olympia.
• The rebuilt, $181 million passenger corridor goes directly from Tacoma to DuPont, instead of a slow but scenic path along Puget Sound at Tacoma Narrows.
• The route crosses major arterials next to I-5 and Joint Base Lewis-McChord. There are no switches or road crossings in the immediate area, said Janet Matkin, spokeswoman for the WSDOT’s rail division. However, the corridor in general passes through many neighborhoods and roads.

Here’s what we don’t know:

Why exactly the derailment occurred.

• Preliminary evidence suggests the Amtrak train was traveling at 80 mph when it derailed, according to National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Member Bella Dinh-Zarr. The speed limit there is 30 mph.
• The federal investigating board, which will determine the cause of the crash, said it had no other information.
• Gay Banks Olson, an assistant superintendent of operations with Amtrak, declined to say what caused the derailment Monday.
• Bob Chipkevich, a former NTSB director of railroad, pipeline and hazardous-materials investigations, said it looks like it was a high-speed derailment based on the TV images he’s seen of the accident.

Details on the victims.

• The Pierce County Medical Examiner will formally identify the deceased.

What happens next?

• A team with NTSB is expected to arrive in the Seattle area late Monday.
• Large cranes — some already on site — will begin stabilizing the rail cars, Trooper Bova said.
• The southbound lanes of I-5 are completely blocked and will remain closed at least through Tuesday morning.
• Because of the derailment, WSDOT said, the Amtrak Cascades trains will detour onto their former route along the waterfront.
• People who need information about their friends or family who might have been on the train can call 1-800-523-9101, Amtrak said.

These are the first deaths on Amtrak Cascades trains in Washington state.

Material from The Seattle Times archives contributed to this report.

Jessica Lee: 206-464-2532 or jlee@seattletimes.com; on Twitter: @jessleeST.

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