(The following story by Mary Pickels appeared on the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review website on April 26, 2010.)
PITTSBURGH, Pa. — Twenty-two cars on a Norfolk Southern freight train left the tracks early this morning along Rodebaugh Road in Hempfield.
The cars were among 113 empty automobile carriers on a westbound train traveling from New Jersey to Ohio, according to Norfolk Southern spokesman Rudy Husband.
There were no injuries in the 4:39 a.m. incident, Husband said.
The lines remained shut down by early afternoon, but Husband said he hoped one would reopen shortly.
Investigators are working to determine the cause of the derailment.
Husband said 50 to 70 trains per day typically travel the route.
“We have a secondary route for a lot of the trains,” he said. “We are working as safely and quickly as we can.”
Dan Stevens, spokesman for Westmoreland County Department of Public Safety, said the county’s emergency management agency was not notified about the derailment.