(The following article by Christina M. Woods was posted on the Wichita Eagle website on April 3.)
WICHITA, Kansas — Trains continued to run next to BNSF railway and hazardous materials response crews as they worked to replace about four train cars that derailed Sunday morning near 24th North and Broadway.
BNSF officials were on site assisting in cleanup and did not give details about what caused the derailment, which occurred at about 10:15 a.m.
Wichita Fire Department crews were called in to assess the situation and found that no cars overturned, according to Fire Chief Larry Garcia said.
“They maintained their uprightness,” Garcia said of the derailed cars. “There wasn’t any serious damage.”
Some people in the area were concerned about hazardous materials because several of the cars involved read “Sodium Hydroxide Solution.”
Wichita fire Capt. Stacey Wespi said the cars were empty.
“There were no leaks and no hazards to the public,” Wespi said. “As soon as we confirmed that and their (BNSF) crews arrived, we left.”
BNSF and the hazardous materials workers were still correcting the cars after 1 p.m.