At least three people have died after a train derailed while crossing a highway bridge in Washington state.

The Amtrak 501 train was the first high-speed commuter service to use the new track from Seattle to Portland, launched at 6am on Monday.

With about 78 passengers and five crew, the train was on a bridge over the Interstate-5 highway in Pierce County, 40 miles south of Seattle, when it came off the tracks at 7.40am (3.40pm GMT).

source: SKYNEWS