Legal news for Connecticut train attorneys – a train derailment resulted in emergency crews attempting to remove ethanol from overturned cars, requiring closed roads and construction crews with heavy machinery
Thomspson, Connecticut (NewYorkInjuryNews.com) – Four tanker cars carrying 25,000 gallons of ethanol each derailed from an 80-car train Thursday, March 11, 2010, prompting an emergency response to remove the liquid from the cars. The incident happened around 4:00 a.m. but was not reported until 7:30 a.m., as reported by the Norwich Bulletin.
No injuries were reported and there was not a spill. Jeff Chandler, a member of the state Department of Environmental Protection’s emergency response team stated that the railroad did not violate any laws by the delay in reporting the incident. He explained, “if there was no breach of the tanks, no leakage, it was probably not a violation of the regulations.” There has been no explanation for the delay in reporting the derailment.
Three of the four cars rolled down an embankment, while the other remained leaning over. 71 of the remaining cars continued to the original destination of Providence, Rhode Island. Officials on the scene state there was no danger to residents thanks to the isolated location, a densely wooded area near Windham.
On Friday, March 12, 2010, Corman Derailment Services cleared a swath through the woods to provide access for cranes and other heavy equipment to reach the site and correct the cars. It was estimated that it would take approximately four hours to pump the cars of the ethanol. Marie Angelini, a spokeswoman for Providence and Worchester Railroad did not give a cause for the accident.
Legal News Reporter: Tara Monks – legal news for Connecticut train attorneys.