Train derails in downtown Arlington - No injuries - businesses evacuated

ARLINGTON - Report of a derailed Union Pacific (UP) freight train near 101. S Mesquite came into police emergency headquarters today at 12:43 p.m. The train, moving thru downtown Arlington, derailed behind 500 E Abram St. Seven train cars left the tracks with one car overturning and leaking an unknown substance. Fire crews responded and dispatched a HazMat team. Fire Department spokesman Lieutenant Whitfield said “Those cars can carry anything from milk to diesel fuel.”

Toxic materials on the train manifest raised some concern. The overturned car was soon discovered to contain corn syrup. It was later determined that the cars carrying chemicals were a great distance from the scene and were unaffected by the accident.

Eight business were evacuated due to the overturned tanker. Police would not allow anyone to return to the affected buildings because the train crews were dispatching equipment to remove the derailed cars, not due to any danger from a chemical spill.

Lone Star Comics, one of the largest employers in downtown Arlington, has a warehouse next to the scene of the accident. The owner Buddy Saunders spoke with the Arlington Voice, "We made the 911 call that brought the police and fire departments out."

"The derailment was directly behind our building," Mr. Saunders stated, "if it had gone another 20 feet, it would have gone through the back."

Sean Turnbough, an employee for Lone Star Comics, was working in the warehouse at the time of the incident.

“I heard a loud crashing noise…then the warehouse shook," he told the Arlington Voice, "I could see the train slamming on its brakes and shaking and stuttering.”

There were no injuries and no disruption of electrical service. The cause of the train derailment was not immediately apparent. Police expect it will be several days before a thorough report of the investigation is ready for release.

Traffic is expected to remain slow in the downtown area because the Cooper Street train crossing remains blocked. Avoid the area during commute hours. Expect delays as Union Pacific inspectors and clean up crews handle the mess.

Report completed with help from Zack Maxwell.