Kentucky Train Fire Shuts Down Roadways

This morning a CSX company train hauling hazardous materials derailed and exploded causing street closures, home evacuations and general problems within an eighteen mile radius of the derailment. Originally the trains were thought to be hauling liquid propane gas. However, the chemical fire actually resulted from ignition of cyclohexane, the chemical stored in the derailed train cars. Many questions will no doubt arise about how this incident happened and how such toxic chemicals were stored and transported. If you were in the general vicinity of this drailment and became overwhelmed and sick as a result of chemical exposure, would you want to know what happened and receive assurances that you will not suffer health problems as a result? Would you demand accountability?

Would you want to ensure that your home and surroundings are safe and are not exposed to toxic chemicals? When dangerous and toxic chemicals are involved, do you believe that you have the right to demand accountability on the part of everyone who allowed this derailment to occur? If you answered yes to all of these questions, I agree. Apparently, according to the International Herald Tribune, a New York Times Company, today’s train derailment and explosion

was the second fiery train crash in Kentucky in two days. On Monday, four runaway rail cars struck two parked locomotives in central Kentucky, catching fire and spilling a chemical that prompted a limited evacuation.

I have no idea what happened in these past few days but such train crashes should raise questions about rail safety in Kentucky and will hopefully lead to a thorough examination of rail safety and hazardous material storage throughout our country.