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Mayor Adrian M. Fenty: Reports scene as being “as horrific as you can imagine.” Describes one train as being “almost squeezed completely together.”
Confirms the figure of six fatalities, as previously reported by WJLA-TV. Calls that a “working number,” meaning that the hospitals haven’t been cleared and the scene hasn’t been cleared. Fire officials continue searching the scene.
Fire Chief Dennis Rubin says that there’s a total of 76 people transported.
Also: Responder injuries: two, minor.
Rubin: One of trains is compressed 85 percent. Will make certain train is clear of living and dead before turning over the train to investigators. They’re doing a “primary search.”
Police Chief Cathy Lanier: There’s a reunification center set up for families. Please call 3-1-1.
Nine NTSB investigators are on the case. FBI evidence response team is on the case as well.
Fenty: Largest fatality count in four-decade history of Metro.
FBI guy: Team will be assisting NTSB. Evidence-response people are completely on top of this. Cautions against jumping to any conclusions about what happened.
NTSB promises to gather “factual information” about the accident.
Jim Graham: Metro board will meet tomorrow at 2 p.m.