(Delaware television station WBAL posted the following Associated Press article on its website on February 14.)
FARMINGTON, Del. — Officials at Norfolk Southern said a small amount of a solid acid was released when a freight train derailed early Friday morning near Farmington, Del.
Spokesman Rudy Husband said about five pounds of Adipic acid was released.
State police have evacuated the town as a precaution. Officials from the police and the railroad put the number of people evacuated between 200 and 250.
Husband said the train was southbound when it derailed around 3:30 a.m. He said it had 34 cars — 15 carrying propane and the rest carrying grain. He said the cause of the accident is under investigation. Earlier, he said that cold tracks may have been a factor.
According to Husband, the train hit a power line as it derailed and caused a big flash that may have alarmed some people nearby. He said an environmental contractor is headed to the scene to clean up the area around the release.
Police said a shelter for evacuated residents was set up at the Harrington fire hall.