STAFFORD COUNTY, VA – Three CSX railroad cars carrying coal derailed Tuesday afternoon, June 6, on an industrial section of track in Stafford County’s Ferry Farm area.
Kelly Hannon from The Freelance Star reports the following:
One lane of westbound State Route 3 in Stafford was closed following the 4:45 p.m. derailment, which was visible from the road. None of the coal spilled into Route 3′s travel lanes, but space was needed for emergency vehicles.
Stafford County alerted residents last night that traffic delays on westbound Route 3 should be expected for 24 to 36 hours near the derailment scene.
Federal Drive, the primary entrance into the Argyle Heights neighborhood, also closed.
No injuries were reported, said Gary Cease, CSX spokesman.
Only two employees were on board the 100-car freight train when the derailment occurred, a train conductor and an engineer, Cease said.
No disruptions to passenger train schedules are expected, since the derailment took place on an industrial section of track, Cease said.
The freight train originated in Danville, W.Va., and was bound for the Fredericksburg area, although Cease did not know the specific destination.
Each rail car can hold 100 tons of coal, Cease said.
Three rail cars were seen resting on their sides after the derailment, spilling coal south of the tracks down an embankment, within several feet of the road’s edge.
Stafford Fire & Rescue responded to the derailment scene and reported six derailed rail cars, with three of the rail cars spilling contents, according to Mark Doyle, Stafford Fire & Rescue spokesman.
The high temperature in the Fredericksburg area reached 101.6 degrees yesterday, but heat could not be immediately identified or ruled out as a factor in the derailment.
“We’ll be conducting an investigation to see what happened,” Cease said. “But we don’t have any established cause.”
A CSX crew was en route to the scene Tuesday afternoon to clear the rail cars, and company environmental officials will make sure any spilled coal is removed, Cease said.
“It should pose no hazard,” Cease said.
Source:
Fredericksburg.com
Published by FELA lawyer Gordon & Elias, LLP