DUPONT, Washington—An Amtrak train making the first-ever run along a faster new route hurtled off an overpass south of Seattle on Monday and spilled some of its cars onto the highway below, killing at least three people, injuring dozens and crushing two vehicles, authorities said.
Attention quickly turned to the train’s speed. A web site that maps location and speed using data from Amtrak’s train-tracker app showed the train was going 81.1 miles per hour (129 kilometers per hour) about a quarter of a mile from the point where it derailed, where the speed limit is significantly lower.
There were 80 passengers and five on duty crew when the train derailed and pulled 13 cars off the tracks. Authorities said there were three confirmed deaths. More than 70 people were taken for medical care—including 10 with serious injuries.