(The Associated Press circulated the following article on March 9.)
INDUSTRY, Calif. — A freight train derailed Tuesday in a commercial district in eastern Los Angeles County, forcing about 200 people from the area in two separate evacuations.
No injuries were reported. The cause of the wreck was not known.
Twenty-one of 48 cars of a Union Pacific train heading from Colton to Los Angeles derailed shortly before 10 a.m., fire and railroad authorities said. Boxcars ended up in a heap next to several derailed tanker cars.
At least one tanker spilled a grade of propylene glycol used in consumer cooking oil, said Mark Davis, a Union Pacific spokesman. It is not combustible, officials said.
About 150 to 200 people were evacuated from businesses in a strip mall; they were allowed back 2 1/2 hours later when the spill was contained.
Three hours later, however, there was a second evacuation after officials thought a crane brought in to lift the derailed cars ruptured a natural gas line, said Art Marrujo, a county fire dispatch supervisor.
Instead, the emission was from two nearby propane tanks; the leaks did not pose any immediate danger.
Union Pacific was working to replace 1,600 feet of damaged track and to reimburse businesses for any losses, Davis said.