Train Derails In McDavid, Tanker Cars Into Creek

January 29, 2014

A train derailment in McDavid Tuesday night ended with chemical tanker cars submerged in a creek, but resulted in no injuries and just a short evacuation for a small number of families.

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Twenty-three cars of a 69-car CSX train derailed about 6:20 p.m. on a north-south track almost behind the McDavid Sawmill . Reports from the scene indicated that a bridge and railroad tracks in the area were totally destroyed by the derailment.

There were no injuries to the CSX crew or anyone else in the crash.

Two tanker cars  of phosphoric acid were submerged in Fletcher Creek with other cars landing on top of them.

“After hours of close inspection, Escambia County crews have found no evidence of any chemical leaking from the derailed cars,” Escambia County PIO Bill Pearson said early Wednesday morning.

Units from the Molino and McDavid stations of Escambia Fire Rescue and the county’s Hazmat team responded to the incident.

A small number of homes on Cotton Lake Road were evacuated as a precaution, and an emergency shelter was opened by the America Red Cross at the Molino Community Complex. Just one family took advantage of the shelter before officials gave the all-clear for residents to return to the homes.

Pearsons said a crash investigation would be conducted by CSX. He said it  may take crews several weeks to make repairs to tracks at the bridge at that location.

Comments

11 Responses to “Train Derails In McDavid, Tanker Cars Into Creek”

  1. Allison Huskey on January 29th, 2014 7:19 pm

    http://avogadro.chem.iastate.edu/msds/h3po4.htm is a hazard sheet talking about health risks since the health department has now issued a warning that there has indeed been a spill into Flecher creek. The hazard sheet not only talks about health risks but also about how the actions being taken to make the water less acidic does not fully protect against ground water contamination (in the ecological section of the hazard sheet). The hazard sheet also talks about absorbing the chemical with vermiculite and storing the hazardous waste in a approved container for disposal.

  2. jimmy on January 29th, 2014 12:00 am

    I would hate to be the person out there guarding this all night. Hope they can get it cleaned up in the morning when it is daylight.

  3. Sandra Hoynacki on January 28th, 2014 11:03 pm

    I pray God keeps his hand on all responders and families that have to be out tonight..God’s guidance in this situation…

  4. jimmy manning on January 28th, 2014 10:56 pm

    worked for csx rr 44 years, most bad derailments took place on nights just like this.
    i with other employees were 1st. responders to just this type derailment.
    no fires to stay warm by as you never knew what was in the tank cars.
    pray every worker there stays safe and warm best they can.

  5. robie Coffield on January 28th, 2014 9:18 pm

    Praying fornthe firefighters and everyone involved ! God bless

  6. robie Coffield on January 28th, 2014 9:17 pm

    Your coverage is so much better then wear ! Keep up the good work

  7. Puddin on January 28th, 2014 8:26 pm

    Oh man! Glad no one was hurt. Any idea what happened? How bad is this acid, if it leaks? How is the weather affecting the cleanup?

  8. perdido fisherman on January 28th, 2014 8:07 pm

    What a night for something like this to happen. Hope all the 1st responders and hazmat are able to contain this mess without any of them being hurt or getting frostbite. My prayers are with all ya’ll an the families who are being removed from thier homes in this mess.

  9. livinmolino on January 28th, 2014 7:55 pm

    Can we get a map of the location?

  10. Jimmy on January 28th, 2014 7:36 pm

    Wonder if the ice had anything to do with the switches ? .

  11. Dee on January 28th, 2014 7:21 pm

    Pray the cars are not leaking. Praying for our heroes working in this weather.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under Archive