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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.

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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.