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Crew Error Caused Train Derailment In Irwindale

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Jul 1, 2008 6:36 am US/Pacific

Crew Error Caused Train Derailment In Irwindale

IRWINDALE, Calif. A railroad crew error caused the derailment of four industrial train cars in Irwindale on Tuesday, and a compound used as a moisturizer leaked from one of the cars, authorities said.

No one was hurt and there appeared to be little risk of contamination resulting from the spillage, Union Pacific officials said.

The derailment was caused by a Union Pacific crew error at a track switch while moving rail cars from one commercial-industrial location to
another, said Union Pacific spokeswoman Lupe Valdez from the accident scene.

The derailment occurred at Azusa Canyon Road and Arrow Highway around 3:30 a.m., according to a Los Angeles County Fire Department dispatcher.

"It was crew error that created the derail," Valdez said. "They didn't follow instructions on how to move rail cars on this stretch of track.

It was a local industrial rail car move."

Valdez declined to disclose specific details of what went wrong at the track switch, emphasizing that Union Pacific operating rules are not public.

She added that Union Pacific will be changing its operating rules at the Irwindale location because of today's accident.

Sabotage was ruled out, Valdez said.

A hazardous-materials team was dispatched to the scene to deal with the leak. For several hours, local officials said they did not know what substance was leaking, but Union Pacific officials later said it was propylene glycol.

Propylene glycol is an organic compound used as a moisturizer in food, cosmetics, toothpaste, medicines and other products. It is not listed on state and federal lists of hazardous materials, said Union Pacific spokeswoman Lupe Valdez.

The incident was under investigation by the Union Pacific Railroad Police, said Irwindale police Sgt. George Zendejas.

(© 2008 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)

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