A dozen or more cars of a CSX Corp train carrying crude oil through central Virginia derailed in Lynchburg earlier this afternoon, causing a large explosion and fire. So far, no injuries have been reported, but hundreds of citizens have been evacuated from their homes. According to Reuters, several of the cars spilled their contents into the James River. The Huffington Post reports, “Its tankers may be a class of rail cars deemed an ‘unacceptable public risk’ by a member of the National Transportation Safety Board in February. These black, pill-shaped cars, known as DOT-111s, have been involved in recent notable oil train derailments in North Dakota and Quebec.” The decision to phase out these cars came after a DOT-111 caused the Quebec crash last July that killed 47 people.
You can follow DeSmog Blog’s updates as the story unfolds.
Earlier this month, concerns were raised about the possibility of just such an accident. Crude shipments via Lynchburg, Richmond and other heavily populated areas of Virginia began in December 2013, causing concern for environmental and public safety advocates. In early April, the Daily Press reported that “Virginia environmentalists and activists are worried that an uptick in tanker trains carrying petroleum crude oil to a new storage and shipping hub in Yorktown is a recipe for disaster.” Sierra Club’s Glen Besa told reporters he was “concerned that a train derailment could result in an explosion and the loss of life, or an oil spill that could jeopardize our drinking water supplies and the environment” Luckily, no fatalities were reported in the accident, but the city has switched to an alternate water supply in case of contamination.
According to the Wall Street Journal, “The crash is the latest in a string of fiery accidents caused by crude-by-rail transport, including one in Quebec last summer that killed 47 people and incinerated part of the town.”
The Associated Press reports that National Transportation Safety Board Chairman Deborah Hersman said, “We are very clear that this issue needs to be acted on very quickly…There is a very high risk here that hasn’t been addressed.”
The Richmond Times Dispatch posted a chilling video of smoke and flames in the incident.
Follow the links below for more coverage:
Politico: Oil train derails, burns in Lynchburg
New York Daily News: Major fire, explosion after train carrying crude oil derails in Lynchburg, Virginia
WDBJ 7: Train carrying crude oil derails in Lynchburg
Financial Post: CSX Corp train hauling crude oil derails in Lynchburg, Virginia, bursts into flames
Washington Post: Train derails in downtown Lynchburg, shutting down streets, bridges
Climate Progress: Crude Oil Train Derails, Catches Fire, Spills Into Virginia’s James River
BBC: Derailed US train in bursts into flames in Lynchburg
ABC 13: BREAKING NEWS: Train Has Derailed in Lynchburg