(The Associated Press circulated the following story on February 11.)
WOODBRIDGE, N.J. — Three tank cars carrying ethanol derailed Wednesday, and authorities evacuated 12 to 15 homes in the township’s Sewaren neighborhood as a precaution.
The three cars, each carrying 28,000 gallons of the gasoline additive, ran off the Conrail/CSX tracks along East Avenue shortly after 1 p.m., said Woodbridge Mayor Frank G. Pelzman.
One flipped on its side, and residents in the immediate area were evacuated to School No. 9, a neighborhood elementary school, Pelzman said.
Hazmat crews determined that no ethanol had leaked out, Pelzman said, but residents were asked to remain at the school until the cars were put back on the rails.
It was unclear by Wednesday evening how much longer that would take or whether the residents would have to spend the night elsewhere, Fire Chief Dan Powers said.
“That’s always a possibility,” Powers said. “We have no idea right now.”
Police arrested two news photographers and a reporter at the scene.
Mike Derer, a photographer for The Associated Press in Newark, and photographer Vic Yepello and reporter Tom Haydon of The Star-Ledger were handcuffed and taken to the Woodbridge police station. They were released after being issued trespassing citations.
The journalists said they had permission from a homeowner to walk on property adjacent to the tracks. They were arrested as they walked toward the tracks.
Neither Rick Everett, managing editor-news for The Star-Ledger, nor Daniel Day, AP bureau chief in Trenton, would comment on the incident Wednesday.
Authorities could not immediately be reached for information about the incident.