(The Associated Press circulated the following on June 17, 2009.)
SCHULENBURG, Texas — An all-night evacuation of more than 80 homes is over after crews worked all night to contain hazardous chemicals after a freight train derailment in Fayette County.
Two rail cars containing chlorine were among 22 freight cars of a Union Pacific freight train that derailed two miles west of Schulenberg Monday night.
Union Pacific spokeswoman Raquel Espinoza says it’s unclear whether the collapse of bridges over Foster’s Creek and the West Navidad River led to the derailment or resulted from it.
The homes were evacuated about 6 p.m. Tuesday as a precaution as freight cars containing chlorine were being moved. Espinoza said the county lifted the evacuation order at 6 a.m. Wednesday.
No one was injured in the derailment about 95 miles west of Houston and 90 miles east of San Antonio.