[classicman]

2-Two killed, others injured in Washington subway crash

WASHINGTON, June 22 (Reuters) - At least two people were killed and others were injured when a Washington D.C. subway train derailed and smashed into another train on tracks on the outskirts of the city during Monday's afternoon rush hour.

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, which runs the "Metro" subway system, said a six-car Red Line train headed out of town derailed and collided with another train at 5 p.m. EST/2100 GMT on Monday.

"At this point right now we can confirm that there are two fatalities," the authority said in a statement.

The accident trapped passengers in one or more of the subway cars. Emergency rescue personnel were seeking to free the passengers, while others carried injured people off the trains on stretchers.

"We are working to first get everyone outside of the train and everyone who needs medical attention will get (it)," the general manager of metro system, John Catoe, told reporters.

Catoe said that up to 70 people "walked off" the trains, but had no immediate estimate of the number of injured.

Fox television's local news affiliate showed passengers being escorted from a Metro train outside the Fort Totten station. The station said power to the station was shut off.

A reporter with the tv station said he saw what appeared to be a body covered with a sheet, and several injured passengers including one wearing a neck brace.

"One train was on top of another... I can confirm one fatality from having seen the victim," a CNN reporter at the scene said.

Witnesses said fire department vehicles and ambulances were also at the scene, while television pictures showed rescue officials taking injured people off the tracks.

Metro is a heavily used subway system in and around the U.S. capital.

Not that this isn't a terrible enough tragedy on its own, but doesn't Glatt ride public transportation? Hope he is ok...