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A screenshot of video footage shows a derailed train in Van Buren Township, Michigan on February 16, 2023.
"At this time no one is aware of the release of any hazardous materials," said Rep. Debbie Dingell.
As the small town of East Palestine, Ohio reels from a chemical-spewing train crash, another train operated by the same company—Norfolk Southern—derailed outside of Detroit, Michigan on Thursday, the latest in a string of recent wrecks that rail workers have said are a horrible and predictable consequence of the industry's profit-seeking policy decisions.
According to a local NBC affiliate, a Norfolk Southern representative said that "there were no hazardous materials spilled in the crash," which took place in Van Buren Township.
In a Facebook post, Van Buren Township authorities wrote that "the involved train had one railcar that contained liquid chlorine; however it was located away from the overturned section, and was part of the section of railcars removed first."
"There is no evidence of exposed hazardous materials," the post added. "There are also no reported injuries."
U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) said in a statement that "at this time no one is aware of the release of any hazardous materials" and "the car carrying hazardous material has been put upright."
"It is being removed from the area of the other derailed cars, and EPA is dispatching a team to ensure public safety," Dingell added. "We will continue to monitor the situation very closely and remain in touch with federal, state, and local officials, and release additional information as it becomes available."
State Sen. Darrin Camilleri (D-4) and state Rep. Reggie Miller (D-31) issued a joint press release calling Thursday's crash "very disturbing, especially following the recent incident in Ohio."
In the wake of the East Palestine crash, Norfolk Southern has increasingly been described as a poster child for the hazards associated with a Wall Street-backed model known as Precision Scheduled Railroading (PSR), which prioritizes speed and profits over safety.
"Safety inspection times and personnel have been slashed, hindering efforts to ensure trains are safe before they leave yards or terminals. Crews are dissuaded from reporting safety issues. Workers that persist in raising red flags are often ignored," Motherboard's Aaron Gordon wrote Wednesday. "Norfolk Southern's lax safety practices have been applied to its entire network, reflecting a trend happening across the freight rail industry."
This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. US voters have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. If you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
As the small town of East Palestine, Ohio reels from a chemical-spewing train crash, another train operated by the same company—Norfolk Southern—derailed outside of Detroit, Michigan on Thursday, the latest in a string of recent wrecks that rail workers have said are a horrible and predictable consequence of the industry's profit-seeking policy decisions.
According to a local NBC affiliate, a Norfolk Southern representative said that "there were no hazardous materials spilled in the crash," which took place in Van Buren Township.
In a Facebook post, Van Buren Township authorities wrote that "the involved train had one railcar that contained liquid chlorine; however it was located away from the overturned section, and was part of the section of railcars removed first."
"There is no evidence of exposed hazardous materials," the post added. "There are also no reported injuries."
U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) said in a statement that "at this time no one is aware of the release of any hazardous materials" and "the car carrying hazardous material has been put upright."
"It is being removed from the area of the other derailed cars, and EPA is dispatching a team to ensure public safety," Dingell added. "We will continue to monitor the situation very closely and remain in touch with federal, state, and local officials, and release additional information as it becomes available."
State Sen. Darrin Camilleri (D-4) and state Rep. Reggie Miller (D-31) issued a joint press release calling Thursday's crash "very disturbing, especially following the recent incident in Ohio."
In the wake of the East Palestine crash, Norfolk Southern has increasingly been described as a poster child for the hazards associated with a Wall Street-backed model known as Precision Scheduled Railroading (PSR), which prioritizes speed and profits over safety.
"Safety inspection times and personnel have been slashed, hindering efforts to ensure trains are safe before they leave yards or terminals. Crews are dissuaded from reporting safety issues. Workers that persist in raising red flags are often ignored," Motherboard's Aaron Gordon wrote Wednesday. "Norfolk Southern's lax safety practices have been applied to its entire network, reflecting a trend happening across the freight rail industry."
As the small town of East Palestine, Ohio reels from a chemical-spewing train crash, another train operated by the same company—Norfolk Southern—derailed outside of Detroit, Michigan on Thursday, the latest in a string of recent wrecks that rail workers have said are a horrible and predictable consequence of the industry's profit-seeking policy decisions.
According to a local NBC affiliate, a Norfolk Southern representative said that "there were no hazardous materials spilled in the crash," which took place in Van Buren Township.
In a Facebook post, Van Buren Township authorities wrote that "the involved train had one railcar that contained liquid chlorine; however it was located away from the overturned section, and was part of the section of railcars removed first."
"There is no evidence of exposed hazardous materials," the post added. "There are also no reported injuries."
U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) said in a statement that "at this time no one is aware of the release of any hazardous materials" and "the car carrying hazardous material has been put upright."
"It is being removed from the area of the other derailed cars, and EPA is dispatching a team to ensure public safety," Dingell added. "We will continue to monitor the situation very closely and remain in touch with federal, state, and local officials, and release additional information as it becomes available."
State Sen. Darrin Camilleri (D-4) and state Rep. Reggie Miller (D-31) issued a joint press release calling Thursday's crash "very disturbing, especially following the recent incident in Ohio."
In the wake of the East Palestine crash, Norfolk Southern has increasingly been described as a poster child for the hazards associated with a Wall Street-backed model known as Precision Scheduled Railroading (PSR), which prioritizes speed and profits over safety.
"Safety inspection times and personnel have been slashed, hindering efforts to ensure trains are safe before they leave yards or terminals. Crews are dissuaded from reporting safety issues. Workers that persist in raising red flags are often ignored," Motherboard's Aaron Gordon wrote Wednesday. "Norfolk Southern's lax safety practices have been applied to its entire network, reflecting a trend happening across the freight rail industry."