POTTERVILLE, Mich. — A freight train carrying hazardous materials derailed, and officials ordered the evacuation of the town of 2,200 people, according to a wire service.
The train was carrying liquid propane and sulfuric acid when 35 of its 58 cars derailed Monday, the Eaton County Sheriff’s Department said. Nine of the derailed cars were carrying propane and two others contained sulfuric acid.
One car was spewing fuel, another had a steady leak, and a third may have been punctured, said Sheriff Rick Jones. He said any spark or surge of electricity could ignite the cars.
Each propane car contained 34,000 gallons of propane gas, which is considered an extreme fire and explosive hazard, the sheriff’s department said.
The derailment occurred within yards of a mobile home park and subdivision.
Dozens of police and fire officials used bull horns and went door-to-door trying to clear the town and shut down all entrances to the city. The Michigan Department of Transportation shut down both highway exits to Potterville off Interstate 69, as well sections of other roads.
“Nothing like this has ever happened here, there’s no way you can plan for this,” said Benton Township-Potterville Fire Capt. T.J. Richardson.
The train belongs to Grand Trunk, a subsidiary of Canadian National railroad.
Residents with nowhere else to go were given food and water at the sheriff’s office. More than 90 people and 17 volunteers were at the shelter, but several left after learning Canadian National would reimburse residents for hotel rooms.
A highway was closed near Potterville, which is about 12 miles southwest of Lansing. Officials also cut off electricity to most of the town.
All Potterville schools would be closed Tuesday, the sheriff’s department said.
A cause of the derailment had not been determined as of Monday night, Canadian National spokesman Ian Thomson said.
Investigators from the train company began investigating Monday and officials from Canada-based Young Environmental Systems Inc. were working to move the cars.