An Amtrak train derailed on Monday in Washington State in its inaugural run on a faster route from Seattle to Portland, Oregon, sending passenger cars tumbling from a bridge onto a major highway, killing a number of riders and injuring nearly 100. The derailment caused multiple fatalities among the passengers, and as the train struck several cars on Interstate 5 it caused additional injuries but no more reported deaths. Thirteen of the train’s 14 cars jumped the tracks, and five vehicles plus two semi-trailer trucks were involved in the accident. It was not immediately clear whether the derailment was connected to the rerouting. A statement from the state transportation department said the track had undergone “weeks of inspection and testing” before Monday’s launch.
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