Texarkana Train Derailment

October 15, 2005: A train wreck caused an intense explosion sending a huge plume of smoke into the air above the south end of Texarkana. Officials have indicated that one person has died following the train wreck in Texarkana early Saturday morning and hundreds of homes were evacuated.

Background:

The Texarkana derailment occurred when a Union Pacific train hit the back of another freight train at around 5:00 am Saturday in the switchyard. Eight cars derailed including a tanker containing propylene that caught on fire. Two homes were destroyed and several vehicles were totaled in the area surrounding the Texarkana derailment. Reports state that at one point, the smoke was so thick it blocked out daylight. Initially police has reason to believe that the chemical involved was vinyl acetate which releases poisonous fumes, prompting them to go door to door urging thousands of homeowners close to the derailment to move to the north side of town. It was later determined that the chemical that caught fire was propylene. Propylene is a byproduct produced in petroleum refining and is used in plastics.

Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board reported that they had recently finished collecting data on the derailment and it would be nine months to a year before releasing a probable cause of the derailment in Texarkana. Many area residents have reported respiratory problems. Some other symptoms reported include: burning, soarness in the throat, difficulty breathing, headaches and blurred vision.

What can you do:

Many individuals experienced physical injury and other damages. If you were one of the many affected by the Texarkana train derailment, give us a call. We would like to help. For more information, contact attorney Barry Reed at 1.800.493.2827 or click here to send an email.