Whitemarsh Township Pa. trail derailment brings evacuations, hazmat response
A 40-car freight train derailed Monday morning in eastern Pennsylvania forced residents in Whitemarsh Township to leave their homes.
Hazmat crews were dispatched, but town officials said there were no known injuries and “no known hazard to the public.”
At least 10 CSX cars came off their track shortly before 5 a.m., according to CBS News. The Philadelphia Inquirer reported aerial views indicated that number could be higher. It’s unclear what those cars were carrying.
“As of now, the only thing that is leaking from any of the rail cars involved, is silicone pellets which pose no risk to the community,” Whitemarsh Township Police Department tweeted around 7:30 a.m. “We are still gathering information at this time and ask you to follow us here for any important factual updates.”
The incident occurred roughly 16 miles north of Philadelphia. Authorities reported minimal road closures, but evacuated homes in the 5000 block of Camburn Road. Investigators haven’t determined a reason for the derailment.
CSX Transportation is based in Jacksonville, Fla. and operates throughout the eastern United States and parts of Canada. Sparks from one of its trains were blamed for brush fires in Rockland County in April. The company said it would work with local officials to investigate the damage, according to CNN.
