ABC13 Houston published February 13, 2023: 1 person dead after crash causes train to derail at US 59 in Splendora
Deputies said a truck collided with a train, causing it to derail. SkyEye video showed several train cars off the tracks and debris crushed under the front of the train.
KHOU11 News, Houston Texas local
written by Jaime E. Galvan
Monday February 13, 2023
HOUSTON — Emergency crews responded to a train derailment along the Eastex Freeway in the Splendora area Monday morning, according to the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office.
The East Montgomery County Fire Department reports a man driving an 18-wheeler involved in the crash with the train died.
This happened around 7:30 a.m. along the tracks at Midline Road. The Texas Department of Transportation said the Eastex Freeway is back open heading north in the area after being closed for a few hours.
Splendora Police Department said the train was heading south when the big rig crossed the tracks and was hit. The 18-wheeler was dragged half a mile down the tracks.
Police said there are no guard arms or lights at this crossing where the crash took place, but that the driver of the truck should have had a clear line of sight to see the train coming.
Views from Air 11 show several cars off of the tracks near the crash. The Splendora Police Department said about 15 cars derailed in the crash.
Hazmat crews are on the scene but there are no leaks from the cars. They are cleaning up some of the spilled diesel fuel from the truck.
Police said it could in a total of 15 hours to clear the scene.
You'll want to avoid this trouble if your commute takes you into this area. Firefighters said the scene is expected to be active for several hours.
FOX 35 Orlando published February 13, 2023: Multiple train cars detail in Texas. The East Montgomery County, Texas, Fire Department said one person has died after a train and truck collided, which caused the train to derail. Officials said the driver of the truck died. Video showed a half-dozen trains zig-zagged near the tracks.
Houston Public Media
written by Adam Zuvanich
Monday February 13, 2023
The cargo on the train included some hazardous materials, prompting Union Pacific to monitor air quality at the site of the crash, according to the Splendora Police Department.
A truck driver died and several freight train cars were derailed during a Monday morning collision northeast of Houston.
The crash between an 18-wheeler and Union Pacific train occurred shortly before 7:30 a.m. Monday along Interstate 69/U.S. 59 near its intersection with Fostoria and Midline roads, between the towns of Splendora and Cleveland, according to Lt. Troy Teller of the Splendora Police Department. He said 21 train cars were derailed in the collision and that a hazardous materials team from Union Pacific was on site and monitoring air quality as a precaution.
Union Pacific spokesperson Robynn Tysver confirmed that its hazmat crews were on site, adding that an estimated 100 gallons of diesel fuel was released by the truck involved in the crash.
“From what we’re being told and shown, there’s no major chemicals to be concerned about,” Teller said. “It’s more so household chemicals on board for retail purposes. It’s not a large quantity from what we’re being told.”
The driver of the 18-wheeler died from injuries sustained in the crash, according to a Monday morning Facebook post by the East Montgomery County Fire Department. Tysver said there were no injuries among Union Pacific’s train crew. There were no other fatalities or injuries associated with the crash, according to Teller.
Vehicle traffic had reopened on the I-69/59 main lanes by 11 a.m. Monday, according to the Texas Department of Transportation, but Teller said the northbound feeder road between Fostoria and East River Road to the south was expected to remain closed until early Tuesday. Midline Road is expected to be closed until 3 p.m. Monday, according to Teller, who said access to the road after that point will be temporarily restricted to residents who live off Midline.
Teller said the train track running along the highway also was expected to be inoperable until early Tuesday, adding that several feet of the track were damaged and needed to be replaced.
The factors that led to the crash remained under investigation as of late Monday morning. Teller said there are no railroad crossing arms at the intersection where the collision occurred, just a railway crossing yield sign.
“The 18-wheeler was attempting to cross that section when he made contact with the train,” Teller said. “It’s undetermined whether the horn was blown or not.”
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