Trenton's CSX rail line is back in service after Tuesday's derailment, but US 41 and Tress Shop Road are still closed until remaining debris is removed. Officials said the road surfaces are otherwise undamaged.
The National Transportation Safety Board is on scene conducting their investigation of what caused 31 train cars to derail. A comprehensive report will likely take several months to issue.
Once the train cars and debris are cleared from the accident site, crews will excavate the soil contaminated by the molten sulfur spill and replace it with clean fill.
ORIGINAL STORY:
Thirty-one train cars derailed in Todd County Tuesday morning, resulting in a fire, a toxic chemical spill and a shelter in place order for those nearby.
The Todd County Emergency Management Director said the 140-car CSX train derailed at about 6 a.m. The derailed train cars are blocking Tress Shop Road and Dixie Bee Line Highway, about a mile west of downtown Trenton. US 41 between Trenton and Pembroke is also shut down
He said at least two of the cars were carrying molten sulfur, a flammable chemical that can be toxic when it burns. One of the cars did catch fire, but hazmat crews from Hopkinsville assisted in putting out the fire and surrounding the cars with dirt to prevent the spread of sulfur.
A shelter-in-place order was issued in Trenton within a half-mile of the derailment until around 11 a.m. Residents and businesses were initially told turn off their HVAC systems, but the air quality was later deemed to be safe.
No injuries were reported. The cause of the derailment is under investigation.
The timeline for completing the cleanup remains uncertain, but the Todd County Sheriffs office said they expect it could be a long term blockage.
PHOTOS: Hopkinsville Fire/EMS; John Godsey, WEKT via AP
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