(757) 333-3333Norfolk Southern Derailment in Knoxville Damages Buildings
When derailments occur on America’s railroads they can be spectacular and dangerous to crews and local residents. A Norfolk Southern derailment in Knoxville in Tennessee made headlines over the weekend.
Norfolk Southern confirmed 19 rail cars derailed on Saturday night. Two buildings were damaged but no injuries were reported.
Knoxville Police Department stated in a tweet that people were advised to avoid the derailment scene due to potential hazards.
The train derailed close to the Inskip Food Store at the intersection of East Inskip Drive and Fennel Road. Witnesses said several cars crashed into buildings
Susan Terpay, a spokeswoman for Norfolk Southern, said about 19 rail cars derailed about 10:15 p.m. on Saturday night. She said there were no injuries from the derailment.
The rail cars were carrying shipping containers. Typically, these are stacked on top of each other. They may have come off during the derailment, Terpay said. Norfolk Southern say no hazardous material was involved in the crash.
The News Sentinel reported about five businesses were damaged by the Norfolk Southern derailment, including a boat-building business.
Norfolk Southern worked through the night to remove rail cars and containers from the tracks, and laid the new track, according to Terpay. A rail service resumed early Monday with trains operating at reduced speeds.
The derailment sent train cars colliding into two buildings owned by Morton Properties. The company has five buildings total in the area. It rents the space out to small businesses, according to the News Sentinel.
The Knoxville Police Department said no details were available on the cause of the crash. The investigation will be handled by Norfolk Southern.
The police department gave no information on the contents of the shipping cars but said that they did not contain hazardous material.
The Norfolk Southern derailment in Knoxville again illustrates some of the dangers inherent on America’s railroads.
When trains derail, railroad workers, local residents, and first responders are in danger. The secrecy of the railroads over its cargoes adds a further aspect to these situations.
In 2015, the derailment of a CSX train in Blount County, Tennessee led to a dangerous chemical fire. The widow of a firefighter who died after the blaze has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the railroad and a tank car company.
The frequent derailments raise concerns about the state of America’s railroad infrastructure. If you or a loved one has been injured on the railroad, please contact our experienced railroad worker accident attorneys at (757) 333-3333.
