Rockford Train Derailment, Ethanol spill

ROCKFORD Trying to escape from a derailing train that set off a fiery explosion, a woman abandoned her car at a rail crossing and made it 20 feet on foot before she fell and died.

Eighteen rail cars, all loaded with thousands of gallons of highly flammable ethanol, left the tracks in Friday's derailment, exploding into flames.

The wreckage burned through the night, but the fire was dying down Saturday afternoon as federal investigators began collecting evidence.

National Transportation Safety Board spokesman Robert Sumwalt said investigators won't speculate about what may have caused the derailment on the edge of Rockford, about 80 miles northwest of Chicago. A thorough investigation could take a year, he said.

Investigators will look into the rail crew's performance, the train's mechanics, signaling, the integrity of the cars containing ethanol and the emergency response, Sumwalt said.

An autopsy is planned for Sunday to determine exactly how the victim died, said Winnebago County Coroner Sue Fiduccia, who described the woman's futile escape.

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• train
• rockford
• usa
• spill
• ethanol
• derail
• crash
• evacuation

[sweetkitcat2]

what news crew was this i thought it would be on cnn and all that because it was huge.

[jupjupz]

Channel Seven, In Melbourne, Australia.

[Ihold8stars]

@jonb1184 um u moved because u knew this would happen yet did nothing? told no one? what a crappy use of ones esp! seriously Im glad u moved too! The explosion killed one and no homes were destroyed - the sad parts the after effects on the river but nobody of power is willing to talk bout that but thats no different then anywhere else- thats why the people we the people have to defend our rights and keep on the powers that be who make rules - NOT RUN lookin for greener grass.... traitor

[cghorse66]

that was soo sad. i live about 45 mins away from rockford.

[KingCrazy9]

I live close to there. My friend was one of the evacuated people XD

I remember that day. That was one massive storm @_@

[1nm1]

poster is in Australia, so it could be from their, too.

[1nm1]

sounds like a British accent to me, possibly the BBC ???

[ButtChinLive]

i live there

[sweetkitcat2]

poor fishies

[reymysterio61900]

it was on cnn and fox news but i think this is another country