A freight train carrying hazardous materials has derailed in Northwestern Arizona, according to reports.
The Mohave County Sheriff’s Office said the train derailed at the Topock Bridge near Interstate 40 on Wednesday night.
Authorities confirmed that the train was carrying toxic chemicals but said there is no indication yet that the potentially dangerous materials were spilled.
No injuries or deaths relating to the derailment have been reported.
The crash happened just north of Lake Havasu City, Arizona, near the border of California.
The cause of the train wreck is also unknown at this time.
Information coming from the derailment was preliminary, and an investigation is still ongoing, said Anita Mortensen, a spokesperson of the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office.
According to FOX 10 Phoenix, the BNSF Railway and the National Transportation Safety Board are assisting in the investigation.
The derailment is the latest in an unconnected series of derailments across the country.
On February 3, East Palestine, Ohio suffered one of the country’s worst derailments.
The Norfolk Southern derailment in the small town of East Palestine resulted in air and water pollution and affected nearby residents and wildlife.
Officials from the train company are continuing to closely monitor the cleanup process and said in a statement on Monday that they are working towards “long-term funds to benefit East Palestine.”
“Every day since the derailment, our goal has been to make it right for the people of East Palestine and the surrounding communities,” the company said.
“We are making progress every day cleaning the site safely and thoroughly, providing financial assistance to residents and businesses that have been affected, and investing to help East Palestine and the communities around it thrive.”
“Many residents are worried about what they will do if health impacts related to the derailment are discovered years from now,” the company added.
“We appreciate Ohio Governor Mike DeWine’s leadership and advocacy on this point.
“To date, environmental monitoring continues to show the air and drinking water are safe.
“To provide an additional level of assurance, we are committed to a solution that addresses long-term health risks through the creation of a long-term medical compensation fund.”
As Slay News reported, the state of Ohio has filed a lawsuit against Norfolk Southern for what it calls an “entirely avoidable” derailment which was “the direct result of Norfolk Southern’s practice of putting its own profits above the health, safety, and welfare of the communities in which Norfolk Southern operates.”
The lawsuit was filed on Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio.
The state is seeking “compensatory and punitive damages.”
This is a developing story – check back for updates.
