SPRINGFIELD — UPDATE @ 11:40 a.m. (March 5):
Clark County officials held a press conference that detailed the contents of the train cars, but assured that there was no risk to public health.
After analysis, four tankers were identified with non-hazardous materials. Two tankers contained residual amounts of diesel exhaust fluid, while the other two contained residual amounts of polyacrylamide water solution.
There were no spillages detected and officials claimed that there were no risks to public health, although the site remained “active.”
Another press conference was to be held Sunday at Clark County Fairgrounds Youth Building on South Charleston Pike at 3 p.m.
News Center 7 will be attending the event to inquire more about the incident and what exactly caused it. We will update you as we learn more.
UPDATE @ 1:05 a.m. (March 5):
Clark County officials have called a 1:20 a.m. news conference to provide updates on the Norfolk Southern train derailment.
This story will be updated with details as they are released.
UPDATE @ 11:47 p.m.
Clark County officials have not yet announced when they will be providing an update on what happened after Saturday’s Norfolk Southern train derailment in Springfield.
>>PHOTOS: Drone footage shows train derailment near Clark County Fairgrounds
No injuries have been reported.
A Norfolk Southern spokesperson said no hazardous materials were “involved” in the derailment.
This story will continue to be updated as we learn more.
UPDATE @ 10 p.m.:
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine confirmed he’s been in contact with federal officials including President Joe Biden and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg after Saturday’s Norfolk Southern train derailment in Springfield.
>>PHOTOS: Drone footage shows train derailment near Clark County Fairgrounds
Late this afternoon an @nscorp train derailed in Clark County. We don’t believe hazardous materials were involved. @OhioEPA, @Ohio_EMA, & @OSHP are on scene supporting first responders. President Biden and Secretary Buttigieg called me to offer help from the federal government.
— Governor Mike DeWine (@GovMikeDeWine) March 5, 2023
DeWine added that multiple state agencies including the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, Ohio Emergency Management Agency and the Ohio State Highway Patrol were all on the scene as well.
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>>Power outages reported following train derailment in Clark County
“We don’t believe hazardous materials were involved,” DeWine said in the social media post.
This story will continue to be updated as we learn more.
UPDATE @ 9:30 p.m.:
A news conference to provide updates on the train derailment in Springfield Saturday is not expected until after 11:30 p.m., a Clark County spokesperson told News Center 7 crews.
Around 20 rail cars on a Norfolk Southern train derailed around 5 p.m. near the on the state Route 41 crossing, just north of the Clark County Fairgrounds.
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No injuries have been reported. A Norfolk Southern spokesperson said no hazardous materials were “involved” in the derailment.
>>Power outages reported following train derailment in Clark County
U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a social media post that he was briefed after the derailment and offered federal support to Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine.
“I have been briefed by FRA leadership and spoke with Gov. DeWine to offer our support after the derailment today in Clark County, Ohio. No hazardous material release has been reported, but we will continue to monitor closely and FRA personnel are en route,” Buttigieg said.
We’ll continue to update this story as we learn more.
I have been briefed by FRA leadership and spoke with Gov. DeWine to offer our support after the derailment today in Clark County, Ohio. No hazardous material release has been reported, but we will continue to monitor closely and FRA personnel are en route.
— Secretary Pete Buttigieg (@SecretaryPete) March 5, 2023
UPDATE @ 8:20 p.m.:
Around 20 cars of a Norfolk Southern train derailed Saturday night near the Clark County Fairgrounds, however hazardous materials are not “involved,” according to a spokesperson for the train company.
“This evening, approximately 20 cars of a 212-car Norfolk Southern train derailed while traveling Southbound in the vicinity of Springfield, Ohio. No hazardous materials are involved and there have been no reported injuries. Our teams are en route to the site to begin cleanup operations,” the spokesperson said in a statement to News Center 7 Saturday night.
A shelter-in-place remains for people who live within 1,000 feet of the derailment, which happened near state Route 41 and Gateway Drive.
Norfolk Southern has been the subject of large regional and national scrutiny in the past weeks after one of its trains, hauling hazardous materials, derailed in East Palestine, Ohio in early February.
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We have multiple crews on the scene and we’ll continue to update this page as we learn more.
UPDATE @7:05 p.m.
The Clark County Emergency Management Agency is asking residents within a 1,000 feet of the train derailment in Clark County to shelter in place, according to a post on the Clark County’s Government Facebook page.
People living in the area of State Route 41 near the Prime Ohio Business Park to shelter-in-place out of abundance of caution.
They are asking residents to avoid the area of State Route 41 and find alternate routes.
We will continue to provide updates.
INITIAL STORY:
The Clark County Sheriff’s Office have confirmed deputes are on scene of a train derailment late Saturday afternoon.
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Deputies and medics responded to the area of State Route 41 and Gateway Boulevard near the Clark County Fairgrounds around 5 p.m.
Dispatchers confirm to News Center 7 they are on scene but no other information was available at this time.
Video sent from a News Center 7 viewer shows a couple of box cars derailed.
A hazmat crew is confirmed to be on scene, according to News Center 7′s Taylor Robertson.
The State Highway Patrol and Clark County Sheriff’s Office are also on scene.
We have a news crew on scene and will continue provide updates.
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