(The following article was posted on the News 9 San Antonio website on May 3.)
SAN ANTONIO — Three people were injured and more than 5,000 gallons of diesel fuel spilled into the San Antonio River after a, early morning train derailment south of downtown.
According to reports, one Union Pacific train clipped another traveling in the opposite direction about 3:30 this morning on the railroad tracks near South St. Mary’s Street and Roosevelt Avenue, behind Brackenridge High School.
Local, state and private agencies were at the scene to contain the fuel. No hazardous materials was on board, officials said.
District Fire Chief Randy Jenkins said there is little environmental concern for the area.
He said HAZMAT crews had contained most of the diesel with floating devices
San Antonio Police report about a dozen cars derailed and a couple fell into the river. The cars also hit some power lines in the area.
Officials said the engineers felt the vibrations from the collision and jumped from the moving trains. The three were taken to area hospitals with minor injuries.
Other than a harsh smell, there should be no affect to the public and since the diesel flowed downstream, it would not make it to the River Walk area downtown, Jenkins added.
Witnesses and officials said they are happy this did not occur during a high-traffic time because of its vicinity to the high school.
Authorities said most of the diesel fuel should be removed from the river by the end of the day, but clean-up would not be complete for sometime.