Multiple train cars derailed in Romulus, forcing school evacuations: What we know
Roads may remain blocked Friday by a train derailment in Romulus, a CSX Railroad spokesman said.
The derailment occurred just after 10 a.m. Thursday. Romulus Mayor Robert A. McCraight in a statement said a 97-car train derailed 14 of its cars on north-south CSX tracks in the city, blocking the Wick Road and Tobine Road crossings.
The incident, which caused no leaks or spills, did not pose a danger to the public, CSX spokesman Bryan Tucker said. No rail crew were harmed in the derailment, he added.
"Crews will work through the night and we are hopeful to provide some accessibility to the crossings" Friday, he said.
Romulus first responders and the Wayne County Emergency Management Team were on the scene and assessing the situation Thursday and concurred that "at this time there appears to be no immediate threat to public health," McCraight stated.
The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy was also headed to the derailment scene Thursday. EGLE spokesman Hugh McDiarmid Jr. said one of the train's 97 cars was placarded for carrying a hazardous material — molten sulfur — but that car was empty at the time of the derailment, CSX officials stated and first responders have confirmed.
More: How southeast Michigan became a dumping ground for America's most dangerous chemicals
Most of the derailed cars were empty
"Out of an abundance of caution and to limit the distraction from the heavy equipment that will be operating in the area, two schools located to the west of where the derailment occurred have been closed for the day," McDiarmid said. The schools are Wick Elementary School and Romulus Middle School.
Initial assessment shows most of the rail cars were empty at the time of the derailment, McCraight stated.
The cause of the derailment was not immediately known.
"The cause will be determined by an investigation — right now we’re focused on the recovery and restoration of the area," Tucker said.
Legislators: 'Urgent need' for stricter railroad safety laws
The Romulus derailment comes only eight months after a Feb. 16 derailment in Van Buren Township, which rattled nerves as it came less than two weeks after a derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, that caused a large fire and released potentially health-harming vinyl chloride and other hazardous chemicals. More than 2,000 nearby residents were asked to evacuate during that incident.
State and federal Democratic lawmakers called for additional action on railroad safety after Thursday's derailment in Romulus.
“I am extremely frustrated and disappointed to hear about yet another train derailment in my community," said state Rep. Reggie Miller, D-Van Buren Township.
"The startling frequency with which we experience these incidents underscores the urgent need for stricter laws and regulations regarding freight rail. I’m relieved that there was no hazardous waste spilled, but as we know from similar accidents, we are not always so lucky. This situation is untenable, and it must change."State Rep. Dylan Wegela, a Democrat from Garden City, said, “Once again, public safety was put in danger because our freight rail infrastructure has not been invested in properly." He called for "further oversight from our federal partners to protect Michigan communities from dangerous materials and situations.”
U.S. Rep. Shri Thanedar said the derailment "obviously represents a breakdown in the system.""For those of us who have been paying attention to the deteriorating state of our country’s infrastructure, this is not a surprise," he said. "The bipartisan infrastructure law will be bringing much-needed funds to the rail system, but we need to ensure the safety of our neighbors now."
Contact Keith Matheny: kmatheny@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Train derailment in Romulus: Schools evacuated, no spills reported
