No hazardous material on board 28 cars of Norfolk Southern train derailed in Ohio

No hazardous materials were on board the 28 cars of a Norfolk Southern train that derailed Saturday evening in Springfield, Ohio, officials said at a news briefing.

It was the second derailment of the company’s trains in Ohio in a matter of weeks after a train carrying dangerous chemicals derailed in East Palestine on Feb. 3.

Multiple agencies responded to the derailment in Clark County, about 38 minutes from Columbus, at around 5 p.m. The 212-car train was headed to Birmingham, Alabama, from Bellevue, Ohio, said Kraig Barner, Norfolk Southern’s general manager of operations.

“None of those derailed cars were carrying hazardous material, and there were no injuries reported to the public or the two-man crew operating the train,” Barner said.

“Four empty non-hazardous material tank cars” were involved in the derailment, which had previously carried diesel exhaust fluid and an additive commonly used in wastewater treatment, Barner said.

One car containing plastic pellets was involved, and a small amount spilled out onto the soil, Ohio Environmental Protection Agency Director Ann Vogel said. The pellets are not hazardous.

Power lines were also involved, which meant agencies weren’t able to begin cleanup operations until Sunday morning.

It was not immediately known what caused the derailment.

“This derailment, as all derailments, will be fully investigated and the findings will be turned over to the Federal Railroad Administration,” Barner said.

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