Freight train derails in North Bergen, N.J.
By Jesse Zanger, Adi Guajardo
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BERGEN, New Jersey (WCBS) — A freight train derailment in North Bergen, New Jersey, shut down Route 3 for hours Tuesday.
It has since reopened as crews work to upright the derailed cars.
According to CSX, a total of 13 rail cars derailed just after 3:15 p.m. along Tonnelle Avenue.
Allen Pascual, the North Bergen public safety commissioner, said the impact left seven cars on their sides. Three were carrying chemicals, and one leaked ethyl acetate, a highly flammable chemical used in paint and nail polish remover.
“The big concern was with the one container,” Pascual said. “It is flammable, but it is contained right now.”
He said firefighters sprayed the area where the car leaked to help dilute the chemical and were working on sealing off the area.
Tuesday evening, emergency crews worked to clean up the train cars.
“CSX, they’re apparently bringing down some really heavy cranes that they use to lift these railcars off,” Pascual said.
“Our primary focus is on the safety of onsite personnel, the surrounding community, and the environment. CSX crews are currently on scene and working as safely and quickly as possible to clean up the impacted site,” a CSX spokesperson said in a statement, in part.
Officials say, at this time, the incident does not pose a danger to the public.
Authorities said no injuries were reported, and the cause of the derailment remains under investigation.
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