A recent collision between two freight trains caused some Kentucky residents near Lexington to evacuate their homes and injured four engineers who were aboard. The accident happened shortly after 11 p.m., on Sunday, March 19.
The collision between two Norfolk Southern trains happened in Georgetown, which is approximately 15 miles north of Lexington. The impact caused the locomotives and 13 cars to jump the track, the spokesperson for Norfolk Southern announced.
Both Norfolk Southern personnel and the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) are conducting investigations into the cause of the train wreck.
All four engineers were transported to a local medical facility after the collision. While three were discharged with only minor injuries, a fourth remained hospitalized the following day, the public relations director for Norfolk Southern reported to The Huffington Post.
Authorities reported that the fire that followed the crash was what prompted them to order nearby residents to evacuate. Initially, there were concerns that the train cars may have been hauling hazardous chemicals. However, the subsequent spill was diesel and vegetable oil. Norfolk Southern initiated clean-up efforts after the accident.
This is the most recent disaster involving Norfolk Southern this year. Earlier in March, one of their trains derailed in Asheville, North Carolina. The month before, a freight laden with vehicles also jumped its track in western New York, injuring two of the crew. On Feb. 3, there was another freight train derailment in northern Ohio. The Norfolk Southern train spilled propane in Loudonville.
Statistics provided by the Office of Safety Analysis for the FRA indicate that last year in the United States, there were 1,190 instances of trains derailing. Three head-on collisions occurred. The most frequently cited cause of train wrecks last year was an improperly lined switch, which happened 378 times.
If you suffer injuries or illness related to a train derailment and/or hazardous material spill, you may be able to file a claim for compensation from the liable parties.
Source: The Huffington Post, “Freight Train Collision In Kentucky Sends 4 To Hospital,” Nina Golgowski, March 19, 2018