WA sees second derailment in two days after truck collides with train in Yakima County
Dec 23, 2020, 1:37 PM
A train derailment in Yakima County. (Yakima Office of Emergency Management)
(Yakima Office of Emergency Management)
Washington state saw its second derailment in as many days Wednesday, after a semi-truck collided with a BNSF train in Yakima County two miles east of Mabton.
The collision derailed three engines and seven cars of the train. The semi-truck had farm equipment attached to it, and at this time, it’s unclear whether it had stalled out on the tracks, or had unsuccessfully tried to make it across before the train arrived.
There were minor injuries to at least two BNSF employees from the collision, but no major injuries to anyone involved.
Deputies are on scene for a train derailment at SR22 and Phillips Rd, east of Mabton. We have notified @wastatepatrol , @BNSFRailway @EcologyWA At this time, there are no road closures and minimal injuries. We will update you when there is new information. 📸:@YCFD5PIO pic.twitter.com/t3nY1gvAsU
— Yakima County Sheriff's Office (@YakimaSheriff) December 23, 2020
Diesel from the engines — which were hauling seven grain cars — is leaking into the ground. The Washington Department of Ecology and BNSF responders are on-site to aid in environmental cleanup efforts.
This came almost 24 hours after a train carrying crude oil derailed in Custer, where cleanup is expected to take months. Officials say there is no link between the two derailments.
