EDIS Number: VI-20091123-23946-USA
Date / time: 23/11/2009 19:42:59 [UTC]
Event: Vehicle Accident
Area: North-America
Country: USA
State/County: State of Texas
City: Houston
Number of Deads: None or unknow
Number of Injured: None or unknow
Damage level: Minor

Description:

A train derailment in southwest Houston dumped cars full of coal and other substances all over the side of the road. About 20 cars derailed at S. Main near Hiram Clarke. Some of the coal has actually spilled from the cars onto S. Main. Several cars have also spilled a white substance now identified as ammonium nitrate fertilizer. The fertilizer is not considered dangerous in and of itself without anything that could ignite it. "We do not appear to have any active leaks," said Adrian Trevino with the Houston Fire Department. "It appears to be coal on the ground and some other substances that we are trying to identify." Houston Fire Department crews and HazMat teams are on the scene. Trevino added, "We are in communication with the rail company and we are going to send our HazMat team into this area as soon as they get suited up to see if there's anything else here besides a big clean up." No injuries have been reported. Law officers are redirecting traffic in the area. The northbound lanes of S. Main have now reopened, but southbound lanes are still completely closed. Those lanes may remain closed for several hours more. Drivers are asked to avoid S. Main in the area.