September 19th, 2011 | 
Author: FREDDIESVILLE, TX – A BNSF train derailed in Freddiesville TX on Tuesday, September 13, 2011 between Hitchcock and Bayou Vista.
BNSF train derailment in Freddiesville, TX on September 13, 2011 involved 6 tanker cars hauling ethanol. Five of the 6 cars overturned and two of them were leaking hazardous material.
Freddiesville is located in Galveston County, on the Gulf coast of Texas about 37 miles southeast of Houston, about 15 miles northwest of Galveston and about 6 miles southwest of Texas City.
Map showing location of BNSF train derailment in Freddiesville, TX between Hitchcock and Bayou Vista on a curve of switch track near Highway 6 and North Railroad Ave.
The incident occurred around 8:00 p.m. Tuesday evening in a curved section of switch track about 300 yards from state Highway 6 and close to North Railroad Ave.
The derailment involved tanker cars containing ethanol. Six cars jumped the tracks and five of them overturned. According to reports there was some leakage from the tanker cars which prompted authorities to evacuate local residents until it could be determined that it was safe to return.
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Fortunately there were no injuries reported from the derailment and no railroad workers were injured in the mishap.
The evacuation lasted for about 2 hours and a section of Highway 6 was closed for about 5 hours. Authorities report that about 40 families had to be evacuated. Evacuation facilities were setup at Crosby Middle School in Hitchcock, but most people made other arrangements so the shelter was closed.
The leak was reported to be slowly dripping from two of the tankers. A Hazmat team from BNSF was called in to control the leak and used a drum to contain it.
Repair crews arrived with heavy machinery to repair the damaged tracks and right the overturned cars and cleanup any mess caused by the derailment. By midmorning the next day the overturned cars had been turned upright.
There are no details as to the cause of the derailment. The incident remains under investigation. Speed does not appear to be a factor, but again, there are no details.
FELA Lawyer News Blog is a FELA, train accident and personal injury blog that publishes up to date train accidents and FELA legal news from across the United States. The Federal Employers ‘Liability Act, (FELA) allows injured railroad workers to recover compensation based on the negligence of the railroad company, in lieu of workers’ compensation. FELA defines negligence as the railroad company’s failure to use reasonable care.
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