(The following report appeared on the News-Herald website on December 11.)
CLEVELAND — Two months after the Oct. 10 train derailment in Painesville, CSX Railroad has made good on a promise to reimburse communities and first-responding agencies for their costs incurred from the incident.
More than $607,599 worth of reimbursement checks were delivered personally Monday from CSX to 48 entities in Lake, Geauga, Cuyahoga and Ashtabula counties, during a ceremonial presentation and news conference at the Painesville Fire Department.
U.S. Rep. Steven C. LaTourette, R-Bainbridge Township, spoke personally with Tony Ingram, CSX’s chief operating officer, about a week after the derailment.
First-responding agencies then calculated their expenses and submitted them to CSX, which then cut the checks, the congressman said.
“Our local first responders should be exceptionally proud of their efforts. There were no injuries, no loss of life, and not a single home or business was lost due to the derailment and ensuing fire,” LaTourette said. “This truly was a team effort, and departments from across Northeast Ohio were quick to offer their help.”
Tom Drake, CSX regional vice president of state and government affairs, said the first responders’ professionalism won’t be forgotten, and his company was pleased to be able to reimburse them.
“There is something we can do to ensure that it doesn’t present a financial hardship,” Drake said.
CSX and other railroads generally use about 17 percent of their profits toward safety and infrastructure improvements, LaTourette said.
The National Transportation Safety Board still is investigating the derailment’s cause, and CSX is providing whatever information is needed, officials at the news conference said.
Thirty-two train cars were involved, including five that caught fire, and about 1,300 residents were evacuated from the area, said Painesville Fire Chief Mark Mlachak, who thanked other departments and agencies for their assistance.
CSX also is doing what it can to settle claims from businesses and residents affected by the derailment, said Bob Sullivan, a company spokesman.
Two class-action lawsuits have been filed against CSX – one in Lake County Common Pleas Court, and one in U.S. District Court in Cleveland.
Both cases are in the early stages of litigation, according to court records.
Sullivan said CSX is prohibited by law from further settlement with parties involved in those lawsuits until the cases have been resolved.
LaTourette thanked Mlachak and Kirtland Fire Chief Tony Hutton for coordinating the response effort.
“All the Lake County departments swung into action and did a tremendous job, and so many neighboring departments didn’t hesitate to help. Our local firefighters were the portrait of grace under pressure. We’re fortunate to have them,” the congressman said.