What is with the integrity of the bridge?

There is a huge gap in the bridge at the place where the rail car is dangling. 

My assessment:

The train could not take that corner at 81 mph. The fact both engines made it over the bridge intact tells me the engines were braking. The rest of the cars piled up on top of the two engines. This break in the concrete was either a factor in causing the derailment with some structural integrity gone from the rails or was caused from the pile up.

This is just an off the cuff assessment. I have no special information to tell me what might have caused this disaster with so many deaths.

My sincerest sympathies to the families and friends of the victims. If this was some kind of sabotage, it worked. Why would a mayor of a city say that?

Where is the NTSB?

...A local mayor, from Lakewood, appeared to have predicted a fatal accident two weeks ago.

At a meeting on December 5, Mayor Don Anderson said it was just a matter of time before the high speed trains killed someone.

He claimed that grade separations – such as the overpass involved in this crash - should be included in new route plans to keep trains away from roads.

Komo News reports he asked Deprtment of Transport officials to “do better”.

He added: “Come back when there is that accident, and try to justify not putting in those safety enhancements, or you can go back now and advocate for the money to do it, because this project was never needed and endangers our citizens.”

The NTSB needs to interview the mayor and find out what he suspected and why his concerns were not answered before this tragedy?

If any elected official at any level has concerns about any aspect of public travel they need to be heard. Those at the local level are closer to the people than others. They should never be overlooked as some of the most serious skeptics with the most insight to issues regarding safety. They are the representatives of the people and they are trusted.

There still needs to be a thorough investigation, but, from what I can see, I think it was the speed that is the issue of this derailment. No way to know for sure. I don't see where anything was on the tracks.

I find it curious the cars weren't breaking in unison with the two engines if that is what occurred. It appears they weren't breaking at all.