EMERGENCY services have confirmed there have been “some fatalities” after a high-speed commuter train derailed from an overpass onto a busy highway in Washington state.
At least three people have been killed and at least 77 have been rushed to hospitals following the crash.
The derailment at 7.30am local time has left part of the Amtrak train hanging from a bridge over Interstate 5 (I-5), near DuPont.
Several vehicles were hit by the train as it plummeted on to the road, but remarkably no motorists were killed.
One of the 78 passengers who was onboard the southbound Amtrak service when it derailed said at least seven carriages left the track.
He told local media said terrified passengers were forced to kick out windows to get out when the train’s emergency doors failed to open.
Pierce County Sheriff’s office confirmed there have been "multiple fatalities" on the train.
The Amtrak service from Seattle to Portland was a brand new train but it is not yet known what caused it to leave the track.
The crash is the second time an Amtrak train has derailed this year in Pierce County this year.
A statement from the train operator said there were around 78 passengers and five crew members on board when it derailed.
The I-5 is closed in both directions and authorities are urging drivers to avoid the area as traffic jams of three miles have already built up on either side of the crash.
Chris Karnes, who was onboard the train when it crashed, told KIRO 7 News: "We had just passed the city of DuPont and it seemed like we were going around a curve.
"All of a sudden, we felt this rocking and creaking noise, and it felt like we were heading down a hill.
“The next thing we know, we're being slammed into the front of our seats, windows are breaking, we stop, and there's water gushing out of the train. People were screaming.
"The tracks for this line were supposed to be upgraded to be able to handle higher speeds.
"I'm not sure what happened at this juncture."
The crash occurred at around 7.30am local time this morning.
The I-5 is expected to be closed for several days as authorities investigate the cause of the crash.
A statement from Amtrak said: “Amtrak is aware of an incident with Train 501, Cascades service from Seattle to Portland.
"Emergency services are on the scene and Amtrak management is responding.”
In July, more than 250 passengers were evacuated from an Amtrak train which derailed in Pierce County.
There were no fatalities and nobody was seriously hurt, but some of those on board reported minor injuries.