Last Updated on March 9, 2023
A train derailed in Sandstone, West Virginia, on Wednesday. The derailment caused a fuel tank to plunge into the New River. West Virginia authorities reported that three people were injured due to the derailment. Two of the people injured had to be airlifted to medical care. It is unknown when the tracks will reopen.
West Virginia Emergency Management reported that Wednesday’s train derailment caused a fuel tank to plunge into the New River. West Virginia Emergency Management Division, the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources, and West Virginia American Water are currently monitoring the situation.
The train derailment also caused a fire to break out. So far, residents who live near the accident location have yet to be advised by authorities to evacuate. West Virginia State officials say they are “continuing to collect information and monitor the event for any potential public health impacts.”
West Virginia state officials say a rock slide was the cause of the train derailment. However, it is unknown when the damaged tracks will be reopened.
#BREAKING: Multiple people injured following cargo train derailment ā°ā°
#sandstone | #WestVirginiaā°ā°Multiple emergency crews are on scene to the site of a train derailment in sandstone, West Virginia after a train derailed causing three train workers to be injured Theā¦ https://t.co/8jfVwciJjy pic.twitter.com/lLETjl9tPu
— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) March 8, 2023
FAA computer crashes and train derailments are causing mounting pressure on Biden’s Transportation Secretary, Pete Buttigieg. Buttigieg has attempted to downplay America’s recent transportation failures by saying, “While this horrible situation has gotten a particularly high amount of attention, there are roughly 1000 cases a year of a train derailing.”
Following the East Palestine, Ohio train derailment, Buttigieg said he was on personal time in response to a reporter’s question asking Pete when he would visit the area. Buttigieg recently visited East Palestine, Ohio, one day after Donald Trump visited the area.
As of 4 pm on Wednesday, The U.S. Department of Transportation’s website had yet to post information about today’s train derailment.