New York Train Accident Lawyers

Military Train Derails In Upstate New York

Residents of Watertown in upstate New York received a scare monday July 23rd when they were forced to evacuate their homes following a train derailment. A runaway train originating from Fort Drum military base collided with a vehicle used by a railroad repair crew. The train was carrying equipment for the 10th Mountain Division's 1st Brigade Combat Team for deployment to Iraq. Immediately after the crash, residents were told to evacuate fearing that the train was transporting hazardous materials.

The incident occured when 2 train cars broke free reaching speeds of up to 60 miles an hour. The railroad repair crew were given a warning concerning the runaway train roughly 2 minutes before the accident. One worked sprained an ankle while attempting to flee the scene. Fortunately, no other injures were incurred as a result of the collision.

The train's impact caused a propane tanker to explode which resulted in a fire. The fire was quickly extinguished once rescue workers and fire personnel appeared on the scene. However, the fire, and the concerns over hazardous materials led to the evacuation of many residents in the surrounding area. Hazardou Materials teams were on the scene to investigate and ensure the safety of Watertown and nearby residents.

Fort Drum plans to continue rail operations following this incident.

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