‘Hazardous material’ derailment near Arizona-New Mexico border causes I-40 closure
NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – The McKinley County Sheriff’s Office says a train derailed around 12:41 p.m. near the New Mexico-Arizona state line. They say about 35 rail cars are involved and are near the interstate overpass. The sheriff’s office says a few of the railcars contained liquified petroleum gas and that firefighters are not actively attempting to put the fire out.
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NMSP shut down traffic on I-40 westbound at mile marker 16 in New Mexico and eastbound traffic in Arizona has been shut down at mile marker 333. Authorities do not have an estimated time for the road to be reopened. NMSP says anyone who needs to travel that way must take I-25 southbound in Albuquerque to I-10 in Las Cruces to travel west.
Local residents of Laguna, Acoma, Grants, Gallup, or any other nearby towns will be allowed west past the road closure but proof of residency will need to be shown.
Evacuations have been ordered for homes within two miles from the 1/2 mile marker of I-40 in New Mexico. No injuries or fatalities have been reported. The cause of the derailment is under investigation.
New Mexico Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernández sent this statement on Friday night:
Every day in the U.S., an average of three trains derail with as many as half potentially carrying hazardous substances. New Mexico is part of that sad statistic.”
We are closely monitoring the situation following today’s derailment alongside Secretary Buttigieg, the Federal Railroad Administration, President Nygren, and first responders. Our Tribal, State and Federal officials are responding to the derailment quickly so we can keep the people of the Navajo Nation and the travelers on our highways safe.
I am calling on Congress to act and pass legislation like the Railway Safety Act that has been pending since the derailment in East Palestine, Ohio and the Rail Worker and Community Safety Act led by Congresswoman Stansbury. We cannot let the rail industry stand in the way of our transportation safety.
Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernández
The derailment also caused headaches for Amtrak passengers with the daily run of the Southwest Chief from Chicago to Los Angeles cut short ending Friday’s trip in Albuquerque. A traveler stuck in Albuquerque told KRQE News 13 that while passengers expect to be reimbursed for their tickets, they’re still stranded.
“There’s poor people out here taking the Amtrak that are really going to be hurt and it’s cost the poor people and the disabled people and the elderly people more than anything,” said Ferline Lee, passenger.
