Interstate 40 reopens following fiery train derailment near Arizona-New Mexico border
The Arizona Department of Arizona announced Sunday that Interstate 40 reopened days after a train derailed and caught fire near the Arizona-New Mexico border.
A BNSF train with cars carrying propane and gasoline derailed and caught fire Friday morning, prompting evacuations of nearby residents and a continued shutdown of eastbound I-40 at about 11:45 a.m. on the New Mexico side of the Arizona-New Mexico state line.
Of the roughly 10 train cars involved, two were transporting liquid petroleum and caught fire. The train’s crew members were not injured, according to BNSF.
New Mexico State Police reported the train was transporting hazardous materials, specifically propane and gasoline. Immediate evacuations were ordered for those within a two-mile radius of the derailment.
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The Navajo Nation Council posted on its Facebook page Friday night that evacuation orders were issued for residences within 2 miles of the half-mile marker of I-40 within New Mexico. A shelter in place was set up at the Lupton Chapter House for families in the area.
ADOT posted updates throughout the weekend before announcing that eastbound lanes at all mileposts were open a little after noon Sunday.
It was not immediately clear what caused the derailment.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Interstate 40 reopens following closure from train derailment
