2 Cars Of Freight Train Derail In New Jersey
CARTERET, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- Two tanker cars carrying flammable liquid have derailed from a freight train in New Jersey.
Authorities said it happened as the train took a corner around 8 p.m. Wednesday in Carteret, CBS 2's Christine Sloan reported.
The first tanker car derailed, rolling down an embankment. It was carrying flammable vinyl acetate – which is toxic, Sloan reported.
A second tanker car carrying combustible material also derailed, authorities said.
Carteret Fire Department Chief Mark Hruska said Conrail (Consolidated Rail Corporation) was moving the cars on what's called the "Chemical Coastline" into Kinder Morgan – a petroleum storage facility, at the time of the incident.
"Naturally it concerns me. It's hazardous materials and it's going through a town that's in very close proximity to residential areas," said Hruska. "We're actually in a little bit better shape where this incident occurred because it is a little bit more remote. It creates some logistic problems for us because of the fact that we have water supplies that are generally very far from the site."
Officials said the tankers were not compromised and are not leaking. No injuries were reported.
As a precaution, a Holiday Inn, a warehouse and a school have been evacuated, Sloan reported.
The cause of the derailment is under investigation. The engineer is being interviewed, Sloan reported.
So far, there has been no comment from Conrail.
Meanwhile, there was a major backup on the northbound side of the New Jersey Turnpike. Exit 12 was shut down as a result of the incident.
The incident comes less than a week after the deadly Metro-North derailment.
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