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Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Derailment Caused by Human Error
Investigation into a January 3rd train derailment near Milton, Alabama has traced the cause of the vehicle accident to human error.
CSX investigators determined that the engineer, who was supposed to slow the train to thirty miles per hour before entering the switch, did not do so. Because he failed to slow down, the switch was not properly positioned when the train reached it, causing the derailment.
The accident occurred near Avalon Middle School. Six engines and thirteen cars of the 46-car train went off the rails. Cargo scattered around the tracks and surrounding area, including boxed fruit, wine, and diesel fuel and lubrication oil.
To date, 1,630 tons of contaminated soil have been removed from the area. The CSX spokesman states that additional diesel is trapped under the tracks and cannot be directly excavated. CSX will treat the area with products that will help the diesel fuel degrade more quickly. CSX did not identify the engineer or mention possible disciplinary actions.
While no injuries resulted from this crash, too often train derailments and other large vehicle accidents result in multiple injuries, death, and toxic spills. Cleanup can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, and spills can cause irreversible damage to the surrounding environment.
With special skill in the area of vehicle accidents, the attorneys at the Mobile, Alabama offices of The Cochran Firm can help evaluate such cases and secure damages for people and areas affected. If you’ve been affected by a train derailment or other vehicle accident in your area, please contact The Cochran Firm’s Mobile office for your confidential evaluation.
CSX investigators determined that the engineer, who was supposed to slow the train to thirty miles per hour before entering the switch, did not do so. Because he failed to slow down, the switch was not properly positioned when the train reached it, causing the derailment.
The accident occurred near Avalon Middle School. Six engines and thirteen cars of the 46-car train went off the rails. Cargo scattered around the tracks and surrounding area, including boxed fruit, wine, and diesel fuel and lubrication oil.
To date, 1,630 tons of contaminated soil have been removed from the area. The CSX spokesman states that additional diesel is trapped under the tracks and cannot be directly excavated. CSX will treat the area with products that will help the diesel fuel degrade more quickly. CSX did not identify the engineer or mention possible disciplinary actions.
While no injuries resulted from this crash, too often train derailments and other large vehicle accidents result in multiple injuries, death, and toxic spills. Cleanup can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, and spills can cause irreversible damage to the surrounding environment.
With special skill in the area of vehicle accidents, the attorneys at the Mobile, Alabama offices of The Cochran Firm can help evaluate such cases and secure damages for people and areas affected. If you’ve been affected by a train derailment or other vehicle accident in your area, please contact The Cochran Firm’s Mobile office for your confidential evaluation.
Labels: Mobile
posted by Benjamin A. Irwin at 11:58 AM
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