6 killed, 22 injured in Amtrak train derailment in US Washington state

The Washington State Patrol said altogether 13 of the 14 total cars of Amtrak train 501 derailed south of Seattle in Washington state on the US west coast.

At least one rail car fell off a bridge over a traffic-clogged highway, while five motor vehicles and two semis were hit on freeway below.

Despite the lack of accurate official account of deaths and injuries, MultiCare Health, a non-profit network of hospitals and clinics, said 22 people were taken to three hospitals for treatment of injuries from the derailment of the AMTRAK train near Tacoma in Washington state.

"Victims from the Amtrak train that derailed in DuPont are at 3 of our hospitals," it tweeted earlier.

The Pierce County Sheriff's Department of Washington state said it has not released any numbers on fatalities in the Amtrak train derailment at the moment.

The Amtrak train running between Tacoma and Portland, Oregon derailed and overturned in the Pierce County.

The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, or Amtrack, said in a statement that 78 passengers and five crew members were on board the train at the time of the crash.

Amtrak said in an earlier tweet that Amtrak service south of Seattle is temporarily suspended, but service from Seattle to points north and east is continuing to operate.