Sept. 19--SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY -- Two people have been injured in a train derailment along General Thomas Highway.
The derailment, which left one of two CSX train engines on its side, also included a fire after a fuel tank was punctured, WVEC was reporting this morning. The fire is out.
The train was near the Ashland chemical plant when it derailed, but there was no chemical spill, Maj. Gene Drewery of the Southampton County Sheriff's Office told WAVY this morning. He said crews were working to clean up a diesel fuel spill, but that spill had been contained.
The derailment was reported about 2:30 a.m., according to CSX spokeswoman Carla Groleau. Two locomotives were pulling 35 cars with mixed freight when both locomotives and nine cars went off the tracks.
The train began its trip in Portsmouth and was on its way to Rocky Mount, N.C., Groleau said.
The railroad had special agents respond to the scene along with firefighters and local authorities, she said. The cause of the incident is under investigation.
One of the two injured train employees was flown to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital because of a loss of consciousness and back pain, Drewery told the station. The other employee was taken to Southampton Memorial Hospital with unknown injuries.
General Thomas Highway is open, but nearby Delaware Road is closed because it is blocked by the train, according to Drewery.
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