Baltimore County authorities are scrambling to respond to a freight train that derailed shortly after 2 p.m. in Rosedale, Md. and was followed by reports of an explosion. The train, operated by CSX, was traveling southbound when it came off the tracks on the 7500 block of Lake Drive at 2:02 p.m., Baltimore County public safety officials said.
The derailment was followed by what people said sounded like a large explosion, followed by sightings of a massive plume of smoke and flame that is visible from nearby Interstate 695. A traffic camera operated by the Maryland Department of Transportation has a view of the scene.
As many as 15 cars came off the tracks, NBC4 reports, and hazmat teams have been deployed to the scene. It is unknown what the train is carrying, and CSX has not yet responded to requests for details about the incident.
Baltimore County officials also say there is severe damage to the surrounding area, with several buildings near the derailment site having collapsed.
Update: CSX has released a statement, saying the driver of the truck struck by the train was “seriously injured.” Meanwhile, local officials have ordered the evacuation of a 20-block radius around the derailment site. Occupants of buildings as far as five miles away reported feeling the rumble of the train crash and explosion.
Read CSX’s entire statement below:
CSX is working with emergency responders at Rosedale, Maryland, on the derailment of a CSX freight train. CSX’s top priority is the safety of the community, the emergency responders and the environment, and an emergency response plan is activated to provide full support.
CSX understands that at least one person, the driver of a truck struck by the train immediately before the derailment, was seriously injured. CSX’s train crew – a locomotive engineer and conductor – was not seriously injured. CSX encourages area residents to monitor news reports and notification systems to be advised of any road closures or evacuation orders.
An investigation is under way. The train was en route from Selkirk, N.Y., to Waycross, Ga., when the derailment occurred around 2 p.m. today. It appears that about a dozen rail cars are involved, including at least one rail car containing a material classified by U.S. Department of Transportation as a hazardous material. That is sodium chlorate, an oxidizer used in a variety of industrial processes. The train was being pulled by two locomotives and had 45 rail cars, containing a variety of products from lumber to printing paper.
Watch NSFW video showing the train on fire, with one particularly scary moment at 1:05, below. Again, there’s quite a bit of foul language.
