On Friday, February 3rd, 2023, a train derailment occurred in East Palestine, Ohio, causing catastrophic damage to the town of East Palestine and altering the lives of residents in the area. Multiple train cars contained a dangerous chemical, vinyl chloride, that is both colorless and flammable. On February 6th, 2023, authorities worked on a controlled release of hazardous materials that were contained in multiple derailed train cars.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) commented on the issue, saying that an alarm was tripped just before the derailment that “indicated a mechanical issue,” causing the emergency brake to be applied and ten train cars to derail that were carrying the hazardous materials. It is unclear when residents will be able to return to their homes, the damage that has been caused, or the extent of gasses’ longer-term effect.
If you have been affected by these events, please contact us. Our firm has experience with train derailments, property damage as a result, and inhalation injuries. Contact the Ohio railroad accident attorneys at Murray and Murray at 419-624-3000 or online today.