Colorado lawmakers seek legislative changes following fatal train derailment near Pueblo
Colorado legislators are already searching for ways to make rail transportation safer following a deadly train derailment north of Pueblo on Sunday, Oct. 15.
Around 3:25 p.m., an overpass near Interstate 25 milepost 107 collapsed and dropped a BNSF Railway train carrying at least 12 rail cars onto the road below. A driver of a semitruck, identified Monday as Lafollette Henderson, 60, of Compton, California, was killed as a result of the derailment.
The interstate remained closed in both directions near the site of the crash as of Monday afternoon.
As clean-up crews shoveled tons of coal from derailed cars Monday morning, Colorado state Sen. Nick Hinrichsen of Pueblo told the Chieftain that Sunday's derailment increases the urgency to improve rail transportation throughout the state.
"(Train derailments) have become more frequent and they have become more serious in the last decade," he said. "That coincides with trains themselves becoming a lot longer... We've just been behind in requiring and actually implementing modern rail safety technology."
Rail safety efforts were already in progress
On Feb. 3, a Norfolk Southern-operated train carrying cancer-causing chemicals derailed in East Palestine, Ohio. Colorado legislators soon began brainstorming ways to prevent similar incidents from happening in their state.
Early this month, before the train derailment north of Pueblo, Colorado's Transportation Legislative Review Committee approved legislation that would increase safety inspections, impose limits on train length and employ devices for real-time detection of train defects.
While approved by the review committee, the legislation is expected to go through the General Assembly when it reconvenes in January 2024. The night of the Pueblo train derailment, Colorado Senate Democrats reaffirmed their commitment to getting the legislation passed.
"We are committed to seeing this legislation’s passage as quickly as feasible, so that we may immediately work to reduce the risk of accidents like the ones in East Palestine and Pueblo," Colorado Senate Democrats stated in a news release.
More about the legislation
Following the East Palestine derailment, Hinrichsen and former Senate Majority Leader Dominick Moreno were among the legislators involved with drafting the rail safety bill.
Hinrichsen said he will co-sponsor the bill during the next legislative session. Sen. Tony Exum of Colorado Springs and Sen. Lisa Cutter of Jefferson County will serve as the bill's prime sponsors. A limit of 8,500 feet, or 1.6 miles, for trains carrying hazardous materials is among the main provisions highlighted in the bill.
"We're frequently, in Colorado, seeing 2-mile-plus-long trains," Hinrichsen said. "I would argue that this creates an increased risk for derailment."
The train that derailed in East Palestine was about 9,300 feet long, or about 1.76 miles, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. As of Monday afternoon, the Chieftain is awaiting details about the length of the train that derailed north of Pueblo. Federal investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board were expected to arrive Monday afternoon to begin their investigation.
Buttigieg, Boebert and Frisch respond to train derailment
In touch with Gov. Polis and have been briefed by Federal Railroad & Federal Highway Administrations on a BNSF coal train derailment & bridge collapse affecting I-25 near Pueblo, CO. USDOT staff are en route. Travelers should follow local updates about closures & detours.
— Secretary Pete Buttigieg (@SecretaryPete) October 16, 2023
On Oct. 15 at 6:48 p.m., U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg posted on the social media platform X that he was informed about the train derailment north of Pueblo by Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, the Federal Railroad Administration and the Federal Highway Administration.
"State & local authorities are leading the immediate emergency response, and we will be ready to help in any way needed to support a swift return to normal use for the highway and rail routes affected," Buttigieg posted.
U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert and her 2022 opponent Adam Frisch also posted on the platform the following morning.
"I am saddened to hear of the death of a truck driver who passed away due to the train derailment and bridge collapse along I-25 in north Pueblo," Boebert posted. "My prayers are with the family of this truck driver. My team and I will continue to monitor and receive updates on this tragedy in Pueblo."
"Safety should be our number one priority, and we need greater investments in our infrastructure to prevent future accidents," Frisch posted. "It's critical that we have the resources we need to get I-25 reopened as quickly as possible so that the people of Pueblo and all who rely can travel safely again."
More about the train derailment: Semitruck driver killed after railroad bridge collapses over Interstate 25 north of Pueblo
Chieftain reporter Anna Lynn Winfrey contributed to this report.
Pueblo Chieftain reporter James Bartolo can be reached at JBartolo@gannett.com. Support local news, subscribe to The Pueblo Chieftain at subscribe.chieftain.com.
This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Colorado legislators respond to fatal derailment on I-25 near Pueblo
