Two Union Pacific employees tragically lost their lives, and three individuals sustained injuries in a devastating incident when a freight train collided with a tractor-trailer and derailed in the small city of Pecos, West Texas. The collision occurred at a railway crossing around 5 p.m. on Wednesday, leading to the derailment. Union Pacific, headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, confirmed the loss of two employees due to the accident. Pecos Police Chief Lisa Tarango reported that the injuries suffered by the other individuals were minor.
Despite the presence of hazardous materials on board the train, including lithium ion batteries and airbags, there was no release of these substances during the derailment. City officials managed to contain leaked diesel fuel effectively. The National Transportation Safety Board dispatched a team to investigate the incident, refraining from speculating on the cause during the initial on-scene phase of the inquiry.
Reeves County Emergency Services Chief Ronald Lee disclosed that some of the injured individuals were located in the Chamber of Commerce building, which sustained damage in the derailment. The extent of the damage prompted officials to advise against entering the building until it could be inspected by an engineer.
Railroad safety has been a subject of concern following a recent incident in East Palestine, Ohio, where a Norfolk Southern train derailed, resulting in the spillage of toxic chemicals and a subsequent fire. Regulators have called for enhanced safety measures within the industry, and congressional members have proposed reforms. However, significant operational changes within the railroads have yet to materialize, and the proposed legislation has encountered obstacles.
Eddie Hall, the national president of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen union, emphasized the need for increased safety measures within the railroading sector in response to the Pecos derailment. He underscored that the incident should serve as a wake-up call for legislators to prioritize rail safety.
Visual evidence from the crash site in Pecos revealed that the train was transporting metal shipping containers stacked two high. Pecos, with a population of approximately 13,000 residents, is situated about 200 miles east of El Paso. Chief Tarango confirmed that cleanup efforts were already in progress.
