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Train Crash in Philadelphia

By Megan Gattey

Photo: Paul Cheung/AP

Eight people have been confirmed dead and more than 200 people injured after an Amtrak train crashed in Philadelphia today at 9.20pm local time.

Train 188 was traveling from Washington D.C. to New York when it derailed after turning a corner.

"We were rolling along nice and smooth and then all of a sudden we were on our side," passenger Don Kelleher told NBC Philadelphia.

Eight to 10 cars derailed and there were 238 people on board the train, rail and fire officials said.

Some passengers had to be extricated from the cars. Five local hospitals treated the injured, 11 of which were in critical condition.

The train was traveling at 164 kilometres per hour in an 80km/h area with curved tracks.

The front of the Northeast Regional train was critically damaged.

Associated Press employee Paul Cheung was on board, and said he was fortunate to be at the back of the train.

Police arrived quickly at the scene in Port Richmond and cleared the area.

Attn: Public - Do NOT go to scene of derailment. Please allow 1st responders room to work

— Philadelphia Police (@PhillyPolice) May 13, 2015

Former Congressman Patrick Murphy was on the train, and tweeted photos of firefighters assisting passengers.

pic.twitter.com/GvooK8lq58

— Patrick J. Murphy (@PatrickMurphyPA) May 13, 2015

The firefighters were also helping people out of windows.

Videos from inside the train:

Video I took moments after crash. People trying to open the door and get off the train. pic.twitter.com/fJ2bxXfmhG

— Janelle Richards (@Janelle_News) May 13, 2015

Federal authorities said the derailment was most likely accidental, although the train may have been hit by a projectile moments before the crash.

A similar accident took place on the same section of tracks in 1943, which killed 79 and injured 117.

The accident disrupted the Northeast Corridor line service for several days.

ENDS

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