NTSB issues preliminary report on deadly train derailment north of Pueblo
The National Transportation Safety Board has issued its preliminary report on the Oct. 15 derailment of a Burlington Northern Santa Fe coal train near Pueblo, which caused the death of a semitruck driver when derailed coal cars struck a railroad bridge over Interstate 25 and caused a portion of it to collapse on top of the semi.
A 60-year-old truck driver, Lafollette Henderson, of Compton, California, was killed during the incident which occurred at about 3:24 p.m. Oct. 15, 4 miles north of Pueblo.
A few days after the accident, NTSB investigators announced they believed a broken rail preceded the derailment and the bridge collapsed after the train derailed.
According to the report released Thursday, "The derailment occurred near a track switch east of a railroad bridge that crossed over Interstate 25. A track switch (usually called a switch) allows trains or railcars to be diverted to other tracks."
Derailed railcars struck the bridge, with "six dropping to the interstate below and one or more striking" the northbound semi driven by Henderson. The derailment caused the eastern span of the bridge to "partially collapse over the interstate's northbound lanes" on top of Henderson's semi, according to the report. No members of the train crew were injured.
The train consisted of two locomotives, three distributed power units, and 124 hopper cars loaded with coal. The train was en route from Denver to La Junta and was traveling at about 32 miles per hour on the section of track where the maximum speed is limited to 45 miles per hour.
"Train movements near the derailment site are authorized by wayside signal indications with an overlaid positive train control system and are coordinated by the BNSF Network Operations Center in Ft. Worth, Texas," according to the report.
A positive train control system enforces speed limits and prevents a train from passing through a signal that requires it to stop, according to the NTSB.
The NTSB investigators interviewed witnesses, reviewed data from locomotive event recorders, obtained radio logs, inspected locomotives and railcars, tested and downloaded data from train control and signal systems, examined track near the derailment site, reviewed BNSF track maintenance and welding procedures and recovered a section of rail for analysis at the NTSB Materials Laboratory.
The NTSB’s investigation is ongoing, and its report stated future investigative activity will focus on BNSF’s track maintenance and inspection procedures.
The full investigation could take up to two years to complete and involves the Federal Railroad Administration, BNSF, and representatives of four railroad unions.
The derailment resulted in a prolonged closure of I-25 which was completely reopened four days after the accident.
Past coverage of the train derailment: I-25 fully reopens north of Pueblo Thursday following fatal train derailment
Chieftain reporter Tracy Harmon covers business news. She can be reached by email at tharmon@chieftain.com or via X, formerly Twitter, at twitter.com/tracywumps. Support local news, subscribe to The Pueblo Chieftain at subscribe.chieftain.com.
This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Preliminary NTSB report describes deadly train derailment near Pueblo
