(The following story by Francine Sawyer appeared on the Sun Journal website on March 18.)
NEW BERN, N.C. — Residents of Askins and Ernul escaped mandatory evacuation Thursday after a log truck collided with train cars thought to contain a hazardous material.
The train tankers turned out to be empty.
The driver of the log truck colliding with the Norfolk-Southern train just after 2 p.m. did not escape death.
The identification of the driver of the log truck was unavailable at press time.
North Carolina State Highway Patrol troopers were at the crash well into the night investigating the cause of the collision and making efforts to notify next of kin.
A railroad spokesman said the train had just left the Weyerhauser mill and pulp plant.
Train cars de-railed on U.S. 17, after the impact rerouting traffic. Officials said railroad warning lights were flashing at the train crossing.
Officials announced that U.S. 17 at the railroad crossing would be closed until tonight as the Department of Transportation and Norfolk Southern personnel clear the train cars today.
Motorist should be prepared to take a detour.
Lighted signs, flares and other devices were put up Thursday night in order for motorists to be alert of the highway blockage and closing.
Before first responders learned that the tanker was empty of hydrochloric acid, Little Swift Creek volunteer fire department personnel and Craven County sheriff’s department was executing a plan to evacuate people living within a mile and a half of the accident.
Hydrochloric acid is a colorless or slightly yellow gas which can be shipped as a liquefied compressed gas.
Exposure to the acid can result in circulatory collapse which can lead to death. Asphyxia leading to death is also possible. Contact with acid can also burn the cornea and cause permanent visual damage, according to a hazardous material web site.
Because of concern of the potential danger, Karlos and Alisa Mizzell of Bridgeton were telephoned by her son from West Craven Middle School because of concern of getting home.
Craig Burke, 13, called his parents at 2:15 p.m. for a ride home just to be sure.
As lawmen set up a detour at the intersection of U.S. 17 and the Ernul brick road rerouting hundreds of motorists driving north would travel only two miles out of the way.
“I don’t know where it’s going to lead me – I’ve never been down this road,” said George Dover, a new Vanceboro resident. He said he would usually have only four miles to go to get home. “I just want to get home,” he said.
(K.J. Williams contributed to this story.)