Radio traffic caught the moments right a high-speed Amtrak train derailed and crashed onto Interstate 5 in Pierce County Monday.
"Amtrak 501! Emergency! Emergency! Emergency! We are on the ground!" the train conductor reported. The radio calls were provided by Broadcastify.com
Amtrak Cascades 501 derailed and crashed onto southbound Interstate 5 near DuPont at 7:45 a.m.
"We are on the bridge over I-5 at Nisqually (inaudible) on the freeway," the conductor said.
The train was 14 cars long, including two engines, according to the Washington State Patrol. Thirteen of them jumped the tracks, with at least two hanging over I-5 and at least one more landing on the freeway.
"We were coming around the corner to take the bridge over I-5 there right north of Nisqually and we went on the ground," the conductor said.
Eighty-two people -- 77 of them passengers -- were on board. WSP said five vehicles including two semis on I-5 were struck.
CHI Franciscan reported 77 people were taken to local hospitals. Officials said there were fatalities, but did not immediately confirm how many. The Pierce County Sheriff's Department said none of the motorists who were hit were killed.
"Is everybody OK?" the conductor was asked.
"I'm still figuring that out. We've got cars everywhere and down onto the highway," he responded.
