An unknown number of people are dead and multiple people are injured after an Amtrak Cascades train derailed and crashed onto southbound Interstate 5 between Tacoma and Olympia. Please note that at the time of the derailment that the Amtrak train was traveling at a faster speed than the maximum allowable by the state's Department of Transportation. Also note that the accident occurred during morning commute hours and undoubtedly carried passengers whose final destination was the state capitol (Olympia).

Multiple fatalities, 77 transported to hospitals after Amtrak crash near Lacey
Author: Travis Pittman | King5 News
Dec 18, 2017
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This was the first day for the Amtrak Cascades high-speed train on its new route w trains further inland parallel to Interstate 5 through Tacoma, Lakewood, and Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

Transitdocs.com, a website that maps Amtrak train locations and speeds using data from the railroad's train tracker app, says Train 501 was going 81.1 mph moments before the derailment Monday.

The state Department of Transportation posted information about the $180.7 million project online that says the maximum speed along that stretch of track is 79 mph.

The new route was designed to speed up service by removing passenger trains from a route along Puget Sound that's bogged down by curves, single-track tunnels and freight traffic.

The mayor of Lakewood predicted a deadly crash. But Don Anderson thought it'd involve a fast-moving train hitting a car or pedestrian at a crossing...