The situation regarding the Philadelphia Amtrak derailment is still developing but so far six people have been reported dead with over 100 injured, some critically. The New York-bound Amtrak Northeast Regional Train 188 departed from Washington, D.C. Tuesday night (May 12), and crashed in Philadelphia’s Port Richmond section.
Reports have been swirling in all morning, with local Washington and Philadelphia outlets scrambling to get new details. The derailment took place around 9 p.m. as the train approached a curve in the track near Frankford Junction.
According to witness statements, the crash jolted several people and even caused some passengers to be catapulted into the luggage storage bins above the seats. The numbers of the dead and injured rose overnight, and that number has the potential to grow if reports hold true about the seriousness of the injuries.
NBC Philadelphia, which has been covering the crash closely along with Washington outlet WTOP, has more:
At least six people were killed and over 140 people hurt after an Amtrak train, carrying 238 passengers and five crew members, derailed and rolled onto its side in the Port Richmond section of Philadelphia Tuesday night, according to officials.
The death toll from the crash rose to six Wednesday morning when Temple University Hospital officials confirmed one patient had died of their injuries overnight. 54 patients were treated at Temple, 25 remained hospitalized Wednesday morning including eight patients in critical condition, chief medical officer Dr. Herbert Cushing said at a briefing.
All seven cars of Amtrak Northeast Regional Train 188 derailed and came off the tracks near Frankford Junction on the 2000 block of Wheatsheaf Lane shortly after 9 p.m., officials said. The train was heading to New York from Washington, D.C. and had six passenger cars as well as an engine.
The timing of this crash couldn’t be more unfortunate as Congress is set to debate an Amtrak funding cut. CBS News told WTOP that the House Appropriations Committee will be debating a Republican proposal to lower Amtrak’s funding from $1.4 to $1.13 billion.
CBS News Congressional Correspondent Nancy Cordes tells WTOP that Congress is set to debate a Republican proposal to cut Amtrak’s funding from $1.4 billion to $1.13 billion. Democrats are pushing back on the proposal, saying that investments need to be made to firm up Amtrak’s infrastructure.
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Photo: NBC Philadelphia
