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The derailed train was the first to carry paying customers on a new route for Amtrak. This track had carried freight trains, but was recently upgraded to carry passengers. In a press release last week, Amtrak said using this route would allow for two more daily round-trips between Seattle and Portland and help trains avoid traveling around tight corners and tunnels. Washington state's Department of Transportation said \"today was the first day of public use of the tracks after weeks of inspection and testing.\"

\"PHOTO:
AP
PHOTO: A map released by the Associated Press shows the location of the Amtrak Cascades 501 train derailment south of Tacoma, Washington, Dec. 18, 2017.
>

One passenger on the train, who was not seriously injured, said he heard a \"creaking\" sound before the crash and was “catapulted” forward on impact.

\"PHOTO:
KOMO
PHOTO: An aerial shot captures the wreckage of a train derailment in Washington state, Dec.18, 2017.
>
\"PHOTO:
KOMO
PHOTO: An aerial shot captures the wreckage of a train derailment in Washington state, Dec.18, 2017.
>

“The train started to wobble for a moment,\" Chris Karnes told ABC News, \"And then we were catapulted at the seats in front of us. And the next thing that we knew, our car had crumpled at a portion at the top and we were down an embankment.\"

After the impact, Karnes said his train car “came to rest on a hill -- there was water and a ton of dust flew up into the air.”

\"PHOTO:
Pierce County Sheriff
PHOTO: Emergency crews respond to the scene of a train derailment over Interstate 5 in Washington state, Dec. 18, 2017.
>
\"PHOTO:
WSDOT Tacoma Traffic
PHOTO: A train derailed in Washington state, Dec. 18, 2017.
>

Daniel Konzelman told ABC News he was driving on I-5 when he saw the derailment and pulled over to help.

\"I climbed into the train cars that were turned sideways on the bridge and there was people inside still. Some of them couldn’t move with neck, head and back injuries, so we stabilized them and tried to find a ladder somewhere to help get them out... until the first responders could get there,\" he said.

\"PHOTO:
Elaine Thompson/AP
PHOTO: A car covered in mud and debris with a smashed windshield and other damage sits parked on the shoulder just beyond where an Amtrak train derailed onto Interstate 5, Dec. 18, 2017, in DuPont, Wash.
>

\"Then we moved down to the trains that were more seriously damaged, that had flipped upside-down ... the trains were all dark, and there was a lot of wreckage, and some of them were upside-down or ... the roofs were caved in, and climbed inside the trains as best we could and moved wreckage out of the way to find anybody,\" Konzelman said.

\"PHOTO:
KOMO
PHOTO: People are seen close to the scene of the train derailment in Washington state, Dec. 18, 2017.
>
\"PHOTO:
Braden Chapman via Reuters
PHOTO: Emergency crews respond next to a derailed Amtrak train in Pierce County, Washington state, Dec. 18, 2017.
>

He said he \"went through the trains one-by-one and found one of the train attendants who was badly injured with a back injury ... so we stayed with him. He was freezing cold, so we got blankets and kept him warm.\"

Konzelman said he later reached another car that had \"flipped upside-down and burst open and pinned the occupants underneath the train. ... A lot of them were screaming and moaning, but there was nothing we could do to help them really, so we just stayed with them, we held their hands, we talked to them, we rubbed their backs, tried to get them to just relax and try to be a comfortable as they could.\"

\"PHOTO:
Danae Orlob/@naenae007
PHOTO: A train derailed in Washington state, Dec. 18, 2017.
>

\"There was some things that I hope nobody ever has to see,\" Konzelman said. \"It just broke my heart, the people that were kind of pinned and stuck under the train tracks, and there wasn’t anything you could really do for them but just be with them.\"

\"PHOTO:
Stephen Brashear/Getty Images
PHOTO: Investigators work at the scene of a Amtrak train derailment on Dec. 18, 2017 in DuPont, Wash.
>

The Washington State Department of Transportation said the derailment was blocking all southbound lanes of Interstate 5 near Mounts Road in Pierce County. Officials said I-5 would remain closed on Tuesday due to the investigation.

Amtrak train derailed just south of Dupont. Emergency vehicles came immediately. Happened about 50yd before I was involved in it. pic.twitter.com/jMMVFvngjr

— Gregors (@Gregor_WA) December 18, 2017

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee declared a state of emergency in Pierce and Thurston counties.

He called the derailment \"a serious and ongoing emergency,\" adding, \"[Washington State First Lady Trudi Inslee] and I are holding in our hearts everyone on board, and are praying for the many injured.\"

Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan said in a statement, \"This catastrophic derailment is horrific. My thoughts are with the passengers, families and those injured as well as our first responders, firefighters and police who rushed to the scene.\"

Durkan also said Seattle has offered to help Pierce and Thurston counties.

\"We are deeply saddened,\" Amtrak President and co-CEO Richard Anderson said in a statement, adding, \"We will do everything in our power to support our passengers and crew and their families.”

From Amtrak President and co-CEO Richard Anderson regarding train 501:
“On behalf of everyone at Amtrak, we are deeply saddened by all that has happened today. We will do everything in our power to support our passengers and crew and their families.”

— Amtrak (@Amtrak) December 18, 2017

Amtrak said anyone with questions about family and friends on the train can call 800-523-9101.

\"PHOTO:
Pierce County Sheriffs Department
PHOTO: Wreckage lies at the scene of a train derailment in Washington state, Dec. 18, 2017.
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