http://www.yourlawyer.com/topics/overview/painesville_csx_train_derailment Sat, 21 Nov 2009 17:35:29 -0800 pixel-app en http://www.yourlawyer.com/articles/read/13204 Fri, 12 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.yourlawyer.com/articles/read/13204 CSX train derailment near Painesville, Ohio.  Several cars involved in the accident are still burning, and fire officials say the half-mile area around the site that was evacuated following the CSX train derailment will not be safe until all of the flames are extinguished.

On Wednesday, a 112-car CSX freight train was traveling from Collingwood, Ohio to Buffalo, New York when it derailed outside of Painesville, about 30 miles from Cleveland.   Witnesses to the train derailment reported hearing a loud explosion, and seeing a bright, white flash. The accident resulted in a massive fire, which sent flames shooting at least 30 feet into the air.   People miles from the derailment said that plumes of thick black smoke could be seen billowing from the site.

Fire crews responding to the CSX train derailment where scheduled to start using foam and other fire retardant chemicals to fight the flames today.  The work of extinguishing the fire had been put on hold in order to allow ethanol in one of the derailed CSX tankers to evaporate.   Since the CSX train derailed, the 250 fire fighters at the scene had been working around the clock to insure that flames from burning cars did not reach a tanker filled with liquid petroleum.   Heavy rain yesterday helped that effort, making it possible for crews to begin working on the fire itself this morning.  CSX has been given permission by federal investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) to start removing derailed cars from the accident site.  It could take several days to fully extinguish the fire and remove what is left of the train from the tracks.

About 565 families are still unable to go back to their homes, and officials in Painesville say they will have to wait until the fire is out.   Wednesday’s CSX train derailment resulted in the evacuation of a half-mile area around the accident.  About 300 homes in the Heisley Park neighborhood and apartments on Brookstone, Cobblestone and Forest Brook Drives are still off limits, as are portions of Ohio Route 44.   The evacuation order will remain in effect for at least another day, and CSX is covering the cost of hotel rooms for evacuees.  

Officials from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) continue to monitor the air and water quality around the site.  Of the dozen cars that were burning after the derailment, eight contained hazardous materials including ethanol, liquid petroleum and phtalic anhydride, a chemical used in making plastics.   While none of those chemicals are toxic inhalants, there was concern that alcohol in some of the tankers could run off into a nearby stream, killing fish and wildlife.   The stream, Blackbrook Creek, drains into Mentor Marsh, a federally designated natural landmark.  EPA workers have built earthen dams to help contain any toxins leaking from the derailed CSX train, and to prevent polluted water from entering the creek.

The cause of the CSX train derailment is still under investigation.  NTSB investigators will be reviewing the train’s event record to see if broken tracks or damaged train parts played a role in the derailment.   It is not known when a final report on the CSX train derailment will be available.

]]> http://www.yourlawyer.com/articles/read/13198 Thu, 11 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.yourlawyer.com/articles/read/13198
The 112-car mixed freight train was traveling from Collingwood, Ohio to Buffalo, New York when it derailed outside of Painesville, about 30 miles from Cleveland.   Witnesses to the CSX train derailment reported hearing a loud explosion, and seeing a bright, white flash. The accident resulted in a massive fire, which sent flames shooting at least 30 feet into the air.   People miles from the derailment said that plumes of thick black smoke could be seen billowing from the site.

There is still no world on what caused the CSX train derailment.  Early reports yesterday said that the train had struck a gas line and exploded.   But that has not been confirmed, and the Associated Press is reporting that officials have not determined if the blast witnesses heard was in fact an explosion, or if it was the sound of the actual train derailment.

Of the dozen cars on fire, eight contained hazardous materials including ethanol, liquid petroleum and phtalic anhydride, a chemical used in making plastics.   While none of those chemicals are toxic inhalants, there was concern that alcohol in some of the tankers could run off into a nearby stream, killing fish and wildlife.   The stream, Blackbrook Creek, drains into Mentor Marsh, a federally designated natural landmark. Inspectors from the Environmental Protection Agency were monitoring the air and water overnight in six different spots for any contamination. Fire crews were also in the process of building earthen dams to contain any runoff.

Last night, fire officials decided to wait for the fire to die down on its own, because one of the tankers contained ethanol.   A fire official told the Associated Press that it would safer to allow the fire to burn in a controlled manner for a while so that the ethanol could burn off.  One tanker car which was filled with liquid petroleum was not burning, but firefighters were dousing the car with water to prevent it from igniting.  If all goes as planned, fire crews should start working today to put out the fires.

About 1,300 people were evacuated from homes and business within a half-mile of the train derailment.   Most of the evacuations took place in the Heisley Park neighborhood.  The evacuees also included 340 students from nearby Lathrop Elementary.   Evacuees were taken to the Lake County YMCA and a local high school.  While some people were allowed to return home this morning, those living closest to the site of the train derailment were still being kept away.  There is no word yet on when the rest of the evacuees from the CSX train derailment will be able to go home.

]]> http://www.yourlawyer.com/articles/read/13196 Wed, 10 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.yourlawyer.com/articles/read/13196 train derailment is being evacuated, including one elementary school.  So far, no injuries have been reported.

Early reports indicate that the CSX train that derailed was carrying grain, glycerin, alcohol and butane among its cargo.  At least three cars are burning, and a CSX spokesperson said the railroad is trying to determine what was in those cars.  Butane is a highly volatile substance, and breathing butane fumes can cause drowsiness, narcosis, asphyxia, and cardiac arrhythmia.   Several fire companies, HAZMAT teams and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency were on the scene.  But because of the toxic nature of some of the chemicals carried by the CSX train, crews were waiting until the fire subsided a bit before approaching the scene.

The train derailment occurred about 300 feet away from the Route 44 and Route 2 interchange near Painesville.  Witnesses to the accident reported hearing a large blast and seeing a bright white flash at the time of derailment.   Flames were said to be shooting at least 30 feet into the air, and plumes of thick black smoke could be seen for miles.

Painesville officials began evacuating residents from the Heisley Park neighborhood, and a nearby business park.  Police SWAT teams were going door to door, ordering people to leave, and buses were made available for those who do not have transportation.  One local television station reported that a “couple of dozen” evacuees had been taken to the Lake County YMCA.   The evacuation also included 340 students from Lathrop Elementary School.  Parents were informed that the students could be picked up at Chestnut Elementary.   

Several major roads in the area were also close, including Route 44 Northbound, State Route 84, Route 2 and Route 535.  Police have asked motorists to avoid the area of the CSX train derailment if at all possible.   Railroad lines in the area of the CSX train derailment are still open, and witnesses are reporting that railroad traffic is being allowed to travel through the smoke and flames.

]]> http://www.yourlawyer.com/topics/overview/painesville_csx_train_derailment Wed, 10 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.yourlawyer.com/topics/overview/painesville_csx_train_derailment Painesville CSX Train Derailment On October 10, 2007, a CSX train derailed outside of Painesville in Northeast Ohio after striking a gas line, resulting in a massive explosion.   The train, which had been traveling to Buffalo, NY, was carrying some hazardous materials among its cargo, leading officials in the area to order evacuations of several nearby neighborhoods.

If you or a loved one have been affected by the Painesville CSX train derailment in any way please contact our lawsuit attorneys today by calling 1-800-LAW-INFO (1-800-529-4636) or by filling out or case review form to the right.

CSX Train Derailment Caused Huge Explosion
Witnesses to the derailment reported hearing a loud explosion around noon, and some said they saw a flash of bright, white light.   Other reports said the explosion had tossed several train cars around “like toys”.  The resulting fire sent flames shooting 20 to 30 feet into the air.   News reports said that clouds of thick, black smoke could be seen from several miles away.  The train tracks were about three hundred yards from the road, making access to the derailment difficult for fire crews.

Derailed Train Had Dangerous Materials Aboard
A spokesperson for CSX said the train was a 112-car-mixed use freight train.  Some of the railroad cars were carrying glycerin, alcohol and butane.  Butane is an extremely volatile substance, and inhaling butane fumes can cause drowsiness, narcosis, asphyxia, and cardiac arrhythmia.  Multiple fire departments and hazardous materials management teams were called to the scene.  Environmental response teams from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency were also investigating the accident.  But because of the danger posed by the train’s cargo, crews waited until flames had died down to approach the scene.

Residents, Schools and Businesses Evacuated due to CSX Train Derailment
Police SWAT teams went door to door in several neighborhoods, ordering residents to leave and businesses to close.  News reports said that at least a half mile area around the derailed train was evacuated.   Most of those being evacuated lived in Heisley Park, a new housing development in Painesville.    Lathrop Elementary with 340 students was evacuated.  The children were all sent to another nearby school called Chestnut Elementary.  A business park near the site of the derailment was also evacuated.   

Several roads around the CSX train derailment were closed, including portions of Route 44 Northbound, State Route 84, Route 2 and Route 535.]]>