An Amtrak train that originated in Washington, D.C., derailed in Philadelphia Tuesday night, killing seven and injuring at least 200 more. At least eight are in critical condition.
According to federal investigators, the data recorder of the train has been recovered and could offer clues to what happened. Speed may be one of the issues investigators are putting under the microscope.
“It’s an absolute disastrous mess,” Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter said in a late-night news conference. “I’ve never seen anything so devastating.”
After the approximate 9:30 p.m. derailment of Amtrak Northeast Regional Train 188 — which Amtrak officials said carried 243 passengers and five crew — near the Port Richmond neighborhood of Philadelphia, roughly 150 people “self-evacuated.” First responders then cut many of the injured out of the wreckage, Nutter said.
No cause was known immediately. The derailment appears to be the worst railroad accident in the northeaster corridor in many years.
According to Nutter, seven cars, including the engine, were “in disarray” — “overturned, on their sides … ripped apart,” he said. About 200 police officers and 120 fire personnel were on the scene, Nutter said.
An Associated Press employee and a U.S Naval Academy midshipman are among the seven dead in the crash.
Former U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy, D-Pa., was in the train’s cafe car when it derailed. He tweeted from inside.
The Federal Railroad Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board will be be investigating the site.
Speed may be one of the issues investigators are looking at — as the NTSB confirmed Wednesday that preliminary data shows the train was going over 100 mph before derailment.
According to Amtrak, modified service will be provided between Washington and Philadelphia, Harrisburg and Philadelphia, and New York and Boston. There will be no Amtrak service between New York and Philadelphia, but New Jersey Transit will honor Amtrak tickets between New York City and Trenton, Amtrak said.
(h/t Washington Post, CNN)
This story has been updated from its original 10:37 a.m. posting.
