Wednesday, May 25, 2011

CSX freight trains collide near Charlotte; two crewmembers killed

Two CSX freight trains collided early Tuesday near Charlotte, North Carolina, killing two crewmembers and injuring two.

According to CSX spokesman Bob Sullivan, one train with 12 freight cars was transiting from Atlanta to Charlotte and the other was traveling from New Orleans, when one struck the other from behind, derailing both.

Five homes were reportedly evacuated when a fire was started from the accident, although there were no hazardous materials – a freight car carrying cooking oil caused the fire.

One CSX crewmember died at a nearby hospital while the other died on scene, where one of the residents of the evacuated houses told a local television station he heard the conductor cry out from being trapped.

"I believe he was trapped from the way he sounded, and, evidently, he couldn't move; he was just crying out," James Bailey told WBTV-TV.

For the full CBS News story on the incident: www.cbsnews.com

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