Pueblo fatal train derailment and I-25 shutdown: What we know as of Tuesday afternoon

A Burlington Northern Santa Fe freight train derailed Sunday north of Pueblo, killing one and leading to the shutdown of Interstate 25 going north and south.

Federal investigators with the National Transportation Safety Board arrived in Pueblo Monday afternoon to "determine the probable cause of the derailment and examine the adequacy of track inspections, oversight of track maintenance, the (overpass railroad bridge that partially collapsed during the derailment's) structure and maintenance, and any issues with rail equipment," the NTSB said.

Here's what we know as of Tuesday afternoon, two days after the derailment.

What caused the derailment?

Preliminary information indicates that a broken rail just east of the I-25 bridge caused the derailment of the BNSF train, according to the National Transportation Safety Board.

NTSB investigators believe the broken rail preceded the derailment and the bridge collapsed after the derailment. "Investigators will continue to determine the cause of the broken rail and why warning systems did not alert the crews to the condition of the track as part of the ongoing investigation," the NTSB said Tuesday.

A preliminary report on the investigation will be available within 30 days from the NTSB, containing factual information gathered during the initial phase of the investigation. The final report, which is expected in 12-24 months, will detail the probable cause of the accident and any contributing factors.

When will Interstate 25 reopen?

Currently, there is no definitive estimate for when the interstate will reopen. While the NTSB is leading the investigation into the cause of the derailment, railway owners BNSF are the primary entity responsible for cleanup, response, and construction, the Colorado Department of Transportation said in a Monday news release.

The NTSB issued clearance to begin cleanup operations for most of the area Monday, said Sarah Sulick, a spokesperson for the NTSB. The rest of the area was expected to be cleared Tuesday.

CDOT Communication Director Matt Inzeo also stated that cleaning operations were continuing throughout the day Tuesday. "It does appear that many of the derailed cars near the crash site have been removed," Inzeo said, though he noted he did not know how many derailed cars were left to remove.

Additional information is expected to be released at a later time.

"As all of the entities involved determine other timeline elements, additional details and updates will be shared with the public," CDOT said in its release.

How many cars were involved in the derailment and what was on the train?

A total of 30 cars derailed Sunday afternoon, causing the partial collapse of a railway overpass over I-25, the NTSB stated Monday evening. The train consisted of five locomotives and 124 cars carrying coal.

Who was killed in the derailment?

Lafollette Henderson, 60, a semitruck driver out of Compton, California, died of injuries sustained when the coal train derailed from a bridge that crossed over I-25 near Pueblo, causing a partial bridge collapse on top of his commercial semitruck. No other injuries have been reported.

Who owns the railway bridge?

Lena Kent, general director of public affairs for BNSF, stated that the CDOT owns the bridge.

Shailen Bhatt, director of the Federal Highway Administration, also stated that the bridge is owned by CDOT.

Meanwhile, state officials initially claimed the railway owned the bridge, but have since retracted that position. "CDOT staff continues to go through documentation regarding the roles and responsibilities concerning the collapsed rail bridge," Inzeo said.

The bridge was built in 1958 as part of an I-25 construction project. The old highway used to have a railroad crossing so the bridge was constructed for what was then the Santa Fe Railroad and the underpass accommodated I-25 traffic, eliminating the need for that crossing.

After that, Burlington Northern merged with the Santa Fe railroad in 1995.

In regard to the railroad's maintenance schedule on that line, Kent declined to comment as that is part of the investigation the NTSB is leading.

Does the derailment impact BNSF rail traffic?

Thanks to a cooperative agreement the railroad has with Union Pacific, which enables BNSF freight trains to use a rail line that runs parallel to the one impacted by the derailment, BNSF rail traffic will continue to flow as normal, Kent said.

"BNSF does have an alternate route to continue servicing our customers," she said.

How is I-25 traffic affected by the closure?

Around 40,000 vehicles a day use the affected stretch of I-25, which is a vital link between Pueblo and Colorado Springs, Bhatt said.

About 10% of that traffic consists of commercial trucks.

"So this is an important freight artery, which is a challenge to state and local roads when trucks are diverting off the interstate which is designed to accommodate the heavier loads, larger vehicles," Bhatt said. "I think supply chain is always critical for us, the impact to local community groups.

"We know that people have to get to their jobs, to healthcare, to childcare, that's why we're laser-focused on being out here and making sure state and local authorities have whatever resources they need to reopen this as quickly as possible."

Some of those resources may be determined by the results of the investigation, said Bhatt. "Once we get through the early stages, we'll be able to exactly identify what financial resources might be available."

The highway administration is also coordinating with surrounding states to use variable message signs to tell drivers to use other routes where possible.

"We're trying to signal nationally that one of our major corridors has been impacted," Bhatt said.

Overall, Bhatt said he wants those affected to know that "the situation is being taken very seriously by the White House, by the president, by (U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete) Buttigieg, we're all hands on deck and very aware of the impacts on a local, state and national level."

Where are the detours for people who use Interstate 25?

Motorists traveling north to Colorado Springs need to exit I-25 at U.S. Highway 50, go west to Penrose and then head north on Highway 115, according to the Pueblo County Sheriff's Office.

Southbound I-25 motorists traveling to Pueblo should exit at mile marker 110 onto a county road that runs parallel to I-25 and into Pueblo, according to Colorado State Patrol.

Chieftain reporter Tracy Harmon contributed to this story.

Questions, comments, or story tips? Contact Justin at jreutterma@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @jayreutter1. support local news, please subscribe at subscribe.chieftain.com.

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This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: What we know about the Interstate 25 train derailment in Pueblo Tuesday