OAN Staff Avril Elfie
10:26am – Saturday, December 21, 2024
A freight train derails after colliding with a tractor-trailer in Pecos, Texas, killing two people and injuring three others.
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Two Union Pacific employees were killed and three others were injured when a train derailed after a collision at a railroad crossing, authorities said Thursday.
“This devastating accident is a sobering reminder of the essential risks that rail workers face every day and highlights the critical need for urgent safety improvements across the industry. ” the union said.
Officials said that although there were some hazardous materials on board the train, nothing was released during the accident and that the leaking diesel fuel had been contained.
The National Transportation Safety Board issued a statement Thursday night saying it had sent a team to investigate the derailment, but the cause of the crash had not been determined.
“Railway workers perform important jobs that often involve great personal risk. As we mourn this loss, we also want to continue to improve the lives of all those who work on and live near our tracks.” “We also renew our resolve to fight for stronger security measures to help protect us,” they said.
Reeves County Emergency Services Director Ronald Lee said the injured were inside the Chamber of Commerce building, which was attacked during the incident.
He also said the damage to the building was “sufficiently significant” and recommended that no one enter the building until an initial inspection was carried out.
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) said in a statement that his team is receiving updates on the derailment and is looking at how such accidents can be prevented. Ta.
“My state team and I are following the ongoing situation surrounding the train derailment in Pecos, Texas. We are investigating why this happened and how we can prevent accidents like this in the future,” Cruz wrote to X.
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