Norfolk Southern Train Carrying Diesel Fuel Derails in Pennsylvania River

Original article here.

On Saturday, a Norfolk Southern freight train derailed into a Pennsylvania riverbank, just over a year after the freight company’s infamous crash in Ohio, according to a report from CBS News.

According to the report, an “unknown number” of train cars derailed near the Lehigh River near Bethlehem, spilling diesel fuel and plastic pellets into the river, Norfolk Southern officials and other authorities confirmed.

“There was a diesel fuel spill into the Lehigh River from the accident and containment booms have been deployed,” Lower Saucon Township Police Chief Thomas Barndt said. “There is also a spill of polypropylene plastic pellets from one of the derailed cars.”

Photos shared on social media show rail cars scattered off the tracks, and the train appeared to be hauling boxcars and tankers. A rail car was seen partially submerged in the river.

The diesel fuel spillage was contained by emergency responders with barriers called “booms” and was vacuumed out of the river. Additionally, the plastic pellets from the scene, which landed “predominantly onto the ground” after spilling from one rail car, were also removed, according to the outlet.

Officials reported that there had been no injuries, and there was no public danger resulting from the crash. Norfolk Southern released a statement following the incident.

“Norfolk Southern has responded to a derailment in Lower Saucon Township, PA. There is no threat to the public, no hazardous material concerns from the railcars, and no reports of injuries to our crew members,” the statement said.

“We appreciate the quick, professional response by local emergency agencies,” the statement continued. “Our crews and contractors will remain on-scene over the coming days to cleanup, and we appreciate the public’s patience while they work as quickly, thoroughly, and as safely as possible. We are always working to advance safety. We will investigate this incident to understand how it happened and prevent others like it.”

In early February 2023, a train belonging to Norfolk Southern derailed and spilled toxic chemicals in East Palestine, Ohio. President Joe Biden did not make an appearance in the region for over a year and when he did, he immediately left after two hours before traveling to a Delaware beach for the weekend.

Former President Donald Trump, meanwhile, traveled to the region just a few weeks after the crash, calling on President Biden to “Get over here!”