(The following story appeared on The Tribune-Review website on May 4.)
PITTSBURGH, Pa. — Two freight trains crashed this morning in a Westmoreland County municipality bordering the Youghiogheny River.
A CSX Corp. train heading west from New Castle to Chicago jumped the track shortly before 10 a.m. near West Newton, sending about 10 rail cars off line, said CSX spokesman Garrick Francis.
“(CSX Corp.) is looking at the condition of the tracks at that point, the condition of the train, and how the train was being operated,” Francis said.
Shortly after the derailment, another CSX freight train, this one heading east from Willard, Ohio, to Cumberland, Md., hit at least one of the derailed cars, Francis said. The impact sent about 12 cars from the eastbound train off line, Francis said.
“There were a total of 22 cars knocked off the tracks. It’s being termed as a general pile-up,” Francis said.
By 10:20 a.m., local emergency responders — including unspecified volunteer fire departments and the county hazmat crew — were on scene, Francis said.
Although none of the derailed cars overturned, one was leaking a substance Francis described as a paint additive. Emergency crews are working to prevent the substance from leaking into a nearby stream that feeds into the river, Francis said.
No injuries were reported, Francis said.