Norfolk Southern train derails in Springfield, Ohio; no hazardous materials aboard, railway company says

Nearby residents have been asked to shelter in place after a Norfolk Southern train derailed near a highway in the Springfield, Ohio, area on Saturday.

Norfolk Southern confirmed in a statement to CBS News that 20 cars of a 212-car train derailed. The railway company said there were no hazardous materials aboard the train, and there were no reported injuries.  

Residents within 1,000 feet of the derailment were asked to shelter-in-place out of an “abundance of caution,” the Clark County Emergency Management Agency reported. The derailment occurred near State Route 41.

On Feb. 3, a Norfolk Southern train carrying hazardous materials derailed in a fiery crash in East Palestine, Ohio. Of the 38 cars that derailed, about 10 contained hazardous materials. Hundreds of residents were evacuated, and crews later conducted a controlled release of toxic chemicals, including vinyl chloride, because of the risk that the derailment could cause an explosion.

State and federal officials have faced significant criticism over their response to the East Palestine incident, with local residents concerned that the contamination to the area could pose significant long-term health risks. 

The Environmental Protection Agency has so far said that air quality levels remain at safe levels. However, on Thursday the EPA said that it had ordered Norfolk Southern to conduct dioxin tests at the site of the derailment, and if those dioxin levels were found to be at unsafe levels, it would order an immediate cleanup. 

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who was also criticized for not visiting East Palestine until three weeks after the derailment, tweeted Saturday night that he had been briefed by Federal Railroad Administration staff about the Springfield derailment and had also spoken to Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine on the incident. 

“No hazardous material release has been reported, but we will continue to monitor closely and FRA personnel are en route,” Buttigieg said. 

Springfield is located about 200 miles southwest of East Palestine. 

This is a developing story and will be updated.