Derailed train between Wyoming, Lockland carried hazardous materials

The train that derailed Saturday night on the tracks between Wyoming and Lockland was carrying hazardous materials in several rail cars.

No toxic materials were spilled. However, one of the three derailed cars contained 175,000 pounds of a hazardous compound known as isoprene, Lockland Fire Chief Doug Wehmeyer said.

Isoprene is likely to be a carcinogen, or cancer-causing agent, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Due to its hazardous nature, it’s regulated by three federal agencies: the U.S. Coast Guard, Department of Transportation and Environmental Protection Agency.

Two of the derailed cars have been removed from the scene, Wehmeyer said, and the goal is to remove the last car – the one containing isoprene – by Thursday. A crew is actively working to pump isoprene out of the car, he said.

Of the 170 cars in the train that were not derailed, at least one carried hydrochloric acid, according to Wehmeyer. The chemical is considered to be a hazardous air pollutant by the EPA.

Wyoming city residents within 500 feet of the derailment were temporarily evacuated after the incident due to the potential for hazardous material release.

The reason for the derailment remains under investigation, said Bryan Tucker, a spokesperson from CSX, the company that owns the derailed train

In 2024, nine train derailments have occurred so far in Ohio

This is the ninth derailment to be reported this year in Ohio, according to data from the U.S. Coast Guard’s National Response Center.

Companies must report hazardous material incidents resulting in death or serious injury to the Coast Guard within 12 hours. They also need to report incidents causing evacuations lasting an hour or more.

Coast Guard data shows that Norfolk Southern Corp., the company behind the East Palestine train derailment in 2023, was responsible for three derailments that happened in Ohio this year.

Ohio Central Railroad System was responsible for two, and CSX Railroad was responsible for the latest one that happened between Wyoming and Lockland. Three derailments had no listed responsible company.

CSX provided local fire officials with a list of all the hazardous materials carried by the train during the derailment. This list, called a manifest, helps emergency teams assess the risks posed by the derailment and plan their response accordingly.

CSX declined to share the same document with The Enquirer, citing security concerns.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Ohio train derailment: Car contained carcinogen, hazardous materials