Word coming in that a Red Line train derailed while approaching the Ft. Totten Metro station at just after 5 p.m. Metro doesn’t have many details yet, but trains are turning back at Brookland and Takoma due the derailment. Fire crews have reportedly responded to the scene but we have no information yet on whether there are injuries. Stay tuned.

UPDATE 5:32 p.m. This is looking bad. We’re hearing that there has been a head-on collision between two trains, and there are preliminary reports of multiple injuries. At 4:59 p.m., a Shady Grove-bound Red Line train derailed while approaching Fort Totten station. That train then collided with another train heading in the opposite direction — it’s unclear whether the trains were traveling in opposite directions or the same directions, but they were traveling on the same track. We have heard people may be trapped in one or both of the trains.

Metro is asking people to avoid the Red Line for the remainder of the evening. Trains are operating between Glenmont and Brookland and between Shady Grove and Brookland stations for the remainder of the day.

5:44 p.m. WJLA is reporting that at least one person has died in the crash, along with at least nine people injured. They also say that one train is actually on top of the other one. We’ve heard one train car appears to have been almost completely crushed.

5:57 p.m. The rescue effort is also affecting the Green Line, as those trains run through the Ft. Totten station. Be prepared for Green Line delays this evening as well.

6:02 p.m. NBC4/WRC reports at least 55 people injured, though it’s unclear how many of those injuries are serious. New Hampshire Ave. around the accident has been closed. In addition to avoiding the Red Line, drivers should avoid the area of the accident around Ft. Totten due to messy traffic conditions.

Metro General Manager John Catoe is speaking to the press: he says the collision took place at 5:05 p.m. He doesn’t know the number of injuries, but at least 60 people have been taken off of the trains by D.C. Fire/EMS. No info on whether the train that derailed was meant to be single-tracking, or the circumstances of how the two trains collided — he says it doesn’t look to him like they were traveling in opposite directions, but can’t confirm.

6:04 p.m. Metro is now reporting a second fatality.

6:25 p.m. MARC service has been suspended on the Brunswick line for the time being. Penn and Camden lines are still running but dealing with delays.

6:44 p.m. CNN reports there are still 3 people on the train, unclear if they are alive or dead.

DDOT has sent out a list of road closures in Northeast D.C. in the area around the accident. Motorists are advised to avoid the area and take alternate routes and detours.

>> New Hampshire Avenue north and southbound
>> North Capitol Street north and southbound
>> Eastern Avenue (northwest) east and westbound
>> South Dakota Avenue northbound closed
>> Nicholson Street completely closed

CSX Trains have also been shut down in both directions near the incident.

6:54 p.m. WUSA9 says the last passenger has now been taken off the train, so the rescue effort is officially over. Injury count right now at 42 total people taken to the hospital: 2 critically, 12 with serious injuries, and the rest minor injuries.

7 p.m. Metro now says that one of the two fatalities was a female train operator.

Here’s the statement from Catoe:

“We are extremely saddened that there are fatalities as a result of this accident, which has touched our Metro family. We hope to have more details about the casualties later today. Our safety officials are investigating, and will continue to investigate until we determine why this happened and what must be done to ensure it never happens again,” Metro General Manager John Catoe said.

Mayor Fenty is about to start a press conference. Ward 4 Council member Muriel Bowser and Metro board chairman Jim Graham are both on the scene as well.

7:10 p.m. Fenty says that there are “scores” of people who have been injured, and wow, he says there have been 4 confirmed fatalities, making this the deadliest accident in Metro history.

7:13 p.m. Chief Rubin gives some harder injury numbers: Handled a total of 70 patients, 50 are triaged “green” or walking wounded, 12 moderate injuries, 2 critically injured, 4 dead.

7:17 p.m. Catoe offers the first explanation of the crash. “At 5:02 p.m., one train was stopped waiting to get the order to pass, because the train stopped at a platform. The next train came up behind it, and for reasons we do not know, plodded into the back of that train – the operator of that train was the one who lost her life.”

This explanation seems to jive with initial reports that a train derailing caused the accident.

NTSB is conducting an investigation. Metro is still searching the trains to make sure no one is left trapped on the trains.

Police Chief Cathy Lanier begs people who are trying to locate family members not to show up at the scene. Instead, call: 202-727-9099