A CSX freight train carrying hazardous materials was involved in a derailment of some railcars about 5:00 a.m. Wednesday August 2, 2017 in Hyndman, Pennsylvania, about 100 miles southeast of Pittsburgh.
Some railcars and a garage, hit by some of the derailed cars, were involved with fire. The fire and presence of hazardous materials prompted the evacuation of hundreds of nearby residents. Police and firefighters evacuated everyone within a half mile of the crash scene.
Update on train derailment! https://t.co/uEJ9dzq7Ja | UPDATE: 32 cars derailed at Hyndman, fire still burning
— Elaine Blaisdell (@eblaisdell) August 2, 2017
At least one railcar containing liquid petroleum gas and one railcar containing molten sulfur leaked and caught fire, according to
CSX spokesman Rob Doolittle. The fire continued to burn for several hours.
Doolittle said at least 32 cars on the CSX freight train derailed on a freight train traveling from Chicago to Selkirk, New York. The freight train included five locomotives and a total of 178 rail cars.
“CSX apologizes for the impact that this incident is having on the residents of Hyndman, and will continue to support first responders and the community.
CSX’s top priority is to work cooperatively with first responders and other officials to protect the public’s safety, and CSX personnel are on the scene assisting first responders, providing information about the contents of the train and expertise on responding to railroad incidents.”
— Rob Doolittle, CSX
Hyndman is a small town of with a population of about 1,000 residents is located near the Pennsylvania-Maryland border. An emergency shelter was set up at the Hope for Hyndman Charter School. The American Red Cross also responded to the incident.
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#UPDATE: Crews are on scene of a train derailment in Hyndman. People are being evacuated to Hyndman Charter School. https://t.co/bwNZSsnz5I pic.twitter.com/Ld5knBCbEN
— 6 News (@WJACTV) August 2, 2017
#BREAKING: Part of a freight train derailed setting three train cars on fire in Hyndman, PA. Emergency officials to evacuate nearby homes. pic.twitter.com/e2Uan1SyGq
— Arielle Clay (@ArielleABC3340) August 2, 2017
Train derails. Hyndman, Pa., being evacuated https://t.co/L0HBjo6Dcr pic.twitter.com/W72Cs0qfCB
— Mike Sawyers (@CTNMikeSawyers) August 2, 2017
#BREAKING: Hyndman being evacuated after train derailment, command post movedhttps://t.co/J7r0t4zIcr
— CBS 21 News (@CBS21NEWS) August 2, 2017