At 4:51 a.m. of local time, a CSX train hit a rockslide in Sandstone, West Virginia, causing the empty coal train to derail. Preliminary information indicates that all four locomotives and nine empty coal wagons derailed.
The lead locomotive was carrying three crew members, a conductor, an engineer and a trainee engineer. The locomotive caught fire but all three crew members are safe and are being assessed and treated for non-life threatening injuries.
An unknown amount of diesel fuel and oil spilled from the derailed locomotives and environmental measures are being taken in the New River to contain the spill.
The company has declared the train was not carrying any hazardous materials and the incident posed no risk to the public: "We greatly appreciate the swift actions of the local first responders in Sandstone that rendered aide to our valued crew members. The safety of our employees and the community is our top priority as we dispatch our teams to assess the situation and develop a plan to completely restore the area. Our team is in close contact with local police and fire officials and we will continue to work closely with them on our recovery efforts," the company said in its statement.
