Union Pacific railroad worker dies in train derailment in El Paso's Lower Valley
A Union Pacific railroad employee died and several homes were evacuated after a train derailment Monday night in the Riverside area of the Lower Valley, the El Paso Fire Department said.
The employee killed in the wreck was identified as a train conductor, Mario Aurelio Navarro, 49, who died at the scene when he was struck by a train car that flipped on its side, El Paso police officials said.
Two train cars derailed and damaged a fence, a backyard shed and a gas meter, leading to the precautionary evacuation of nearby homes at 9:30 p.m. along Barton Street near Franklin Drive, fire officials said.
Union Pacific confirmed that one of its employees died during the derailment, which occurred during the process for an arriving train at the Alfalfa Rail Yard, which is farther west on the tracks in the Ramona area.
A death investigation by detectives with the Crimes Against Persons Unit determined that work had been done earlier on a portion of track and a derailment device was installed to protect workers from incoming trains, a police statement said.
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The derailment device had not been removed and still was in place when later that night the train engineer was given clearance to proceed, police said. The conductor was guiding the engineer into the rail yard when the train hit the derailment device.
Firefighters responding to the derailment discovered the body of the train conductor at the scene.
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About 50 residents were allowed back into their homes about 11:30 p.m. after the damaged gas line was shut down and secured by Texas Gas Service, the Fire Department and Union Pacific said.
"We continue to work with local and federal authorities on the investigation and are not releasing the employee’s name, at this time," Union Pacific said in a statement. "Our thoughts are with the employee’s family and coworkers. Union Pacific employees are encouraged to call the Employee Assistance Line 24/7 for additional support."
The death investigation by the El Paso Police Department continues.
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This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Union Pacific railroad worker killed in El Paso train derailment
