Washington DC Subway Trains Collide, Killing At Least 6

Update 8:08 PM — A reporter for Washington's Channel 7 TV is reporting that six people were killed as a result of today's Washington Metro accident. It's also being reported that Washington D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty and the National Transportation Board will have another press conference this evening.

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Updated 7:30 PM — Reporter Brad Bell of Washington's Channel 7 said sources are telling the station the death toll is expected to rise from four to perhaps seven. He also is reporting that Channel 7 reporters are being told that the brakes weren't applied.

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Updated 7:18 PM — Washington's Fire Chief Dennis L. Rubin said that 70 patients were treated. Fifty three were in the walking wounded, 12 were moderately wounded, two had life threatening injuries, and four died from their injuries. Washington Metro General Manager John Catoe said one train was stopped waiting to enter the station when the other collided with it from behind. The cause for that collision is unknown, he said. The operator of the second train was killed.
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Update 7:12 PM Mayor Adrian Fenty said four have died in the accident. It is the worse accident in Washington Metro history, he said. Next of kin haven't yet been notified.

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Update 7:10 PM Channel 7 reporter Brad Bell just reported that 40 people were sent to local hospitals. One of the two confirmed fatalities was the female operator of one of the trains. A 7:15 PM press conference is scheduled.

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Update 7:04 PM — A Channel 7 TV journalist is reporting the most specific casualty numbers I've heard yet. She said emergency officials have said there are 12 serious and 2 critically injured people.

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Update 6:56 PM — Washington D.C.'s Channel 7 WJLA news program has a report that rescue workers are trying to get to three people remaining on the trains. Their condition is unknown. Also, a journalist for that station said the trains were inbound to downtown Washington which would suggest that they weren't as full as they would have been if they had been heading carrying commuters away from downtown DC. The WJLA reporters also suggested that based on what he has seen, the injuries wouldn't be in the dozens but less than that.

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Update 6:34 PM — Earlier we reported that FBI agents were on the scene of the train collision. Washington's Channel 4 news program just reported that the FBI is saying that the agents were there just to assist, that they weren't there because of any evidence of criminal activity linked to the crash.

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Update 6:26 PM There are reports of between 50 and 60 injured so far as a result of the accident. These reports aren't confirmed.

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Update 6:17 PM — There are now reports of two fatalities. With the accident occurring when it did, at about 5:05 PM, the accident hit during rush hour. Metro officials said the trains were on the same track but it's unclear if the trains are were headed in the same direction or in opposite directions. A local TV station showed footage of men wearing windbreakers with FBI emblazoned on the back walking along the tracks. It's unclear if this is standard operating procedure in all accidents in the nation's capital or if there was a particular reason for their appearance on nthe scene.

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Update 6:10 PM — Washington Metro General Manager John Catoe, talking to the media, said 60 people have so far been taken off the train. People were still being extricated, he said. Catoe said people were trapped by doors that failed to open. He confirmed one fatality but did not know if it was an employee or a customer. Images from the scene show one train perched atop the other.

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Update 5:46 PM — Alan Etter, a spokesman for the Washington Fire Department, just told Washington D.C's Channel 4, the NBC affiliate, that there was at least one fatality and numerous severe injuries. The same newscast is reporting that Washington Hospital Center, a major DC trauma facility, has been asked by emergency officials how many victims it can handle. This is a major incident.

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There are reports of two Washington Metro subway trains in Washington D.C. colliding, with one train riding over the other. There are people trapped and firefighters are on the scene attempting to extricate passengers. The Red Line to Friendship Heights is reportedly the line involved. I will update as I get more.