'Mass Casualty Event' as Amtrak Train Crashes Outside Philadelphia

Amtrak Train 188 traveling from Washington, D.C. to New York City crashed around 9:30 p.m. Tuesday night in the Port Richmond area, according to a report from the Associated Press.

AP employee Paul Cheung, who happened to be onboard, reported that it appeared the train derailed after going through a turn. Cheung told the Associated Press that the front of the train “looks pretty bad.”

According to ABC affiliate WPVI-TV in Philadelphia, the train carried 8 to 10 cars with approximately 200 people aboard. Sources tell WPVI-TV that 40 to 60 people have been injured, and Port Richmond Fire Commissioner Derrick Sawyer even went as far to refer to the incident as a “mass casualty event.”

Meanwhile, former Congressman Patrick Murphy Tweeted out a photo of the aftermath from inside the train, where he’d been a passenger. The photo shows rescue personnel assisting passengers. In a Tweet shortly after the crash, Murphy said, “I’m on Amtrak train that just crashed. Im ok (sic). Helping others. Pray for those injured.”

pic.twitter.com/GvooK8lq58

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

UPDATE 11:09 p.m. ET 5/12/15: Amtrak and the National Transportation Safety Board have responded to the crash via Twitter:

We are aware of the derailment of Northeast Regional train 188 north of Philadelphia and will provide updates as they become available.

— Amtrak (@Amtrak) May 13, 2015

NTSB is currently gathering information about tonight's Amtrak derailment in Philadelphia.

— NTSB (@NTSB) May 13, 2015