(The Chicago Tribune posted the following article on its website on August 6.)
HODGKINS, Ill. — As many as five railyard workers suffered burns or headaches from an unidentified chemical leaking from a trailer aboard a rail car Thursday at the Burlington Northern Santa Fe freight yard in Hodgkins.
The train pulling the rail car arrived at the Willow Springs Intermodal Facility at 7600 Santa Fe Drive, and employees unloading the trailer noticed one or more drums on board leaking a chemical, according to a spokesman for the railroad.
One employee suffered burns after the chemical got on his hand, the spokesman said. At least two other employees who were working nearby complained of headaches from the fumes. All three were taken to La Grange Memorial Hospital. Their conditions were not immediately known.