Train derailment spills asphalt into creek near Hampton

THANKS FOR JOINING US ON KCCI 8 NEWS AT SIX. RIGHT NOW, THIS A MASSIVE CLEANUP UNDERWAY NEAR THE FRANKLIN COUNTY TOWN OF HAMPTON, KCCI, THE ONLY CREW ON SCENE AFTER THIS UNION PACIFIC TRAIN WENT OFF ITS TRACKS. OUR ANDREW MOLLENBECK SHOWS US THE WORK UNDERWAY AND WHAT OFFICIALS SAY SPILLED INTO A NEARBY CREEK. THE TRAIN THAT DERAILED IS MORE THAN A MILE LONG. THE PORTION THAT YOU’RE SEEING HERE IS ACTUALLY THE BACK END OF THE TRAIN WHERE DOZENS OF CARS DERAILED EARLY IN THE MORNING, FOUR MILES NORTH OF HAMPTON. THE UNION PACIFIC TRAIN DERAILED ABOUT 44 CARS CAME OFF THE TRACKS. THIS DRONE SHOT SHOWS A BRIDGE THAT WAS DESTROYED IN THE ACCIDENT. THE FORCE OF THAT DERAILMENT STACKED CARS ON TOP OF EACH OTHER LIKE DRIFTWOOD AFTER A STORM. BUT IN A MATTER OF HOURS, CRANES AND OTHER HEAVY EQUIPMENT SET TO WORK CLEANING UP AND EVENTUALLY REBUILDING. IT WAS A MIXED COMMODITY TRAIN, SO IT WAS CARRYING VARIOUS PRODUCTS, BUT IT ALSO WAS CARRYING TANK CARS THAT HAD LIQUID ASPHALT. SOME OF THAT SPILLED INTO A NEARBY CREEK. BUT UNION PACIFIC SAYS THE SPILL HAS BEEN CONTAINED. MORE THAN 50 PEOPLE ARE NOW ON SITE TO HELP WITH THE CLEANUP WITH OTHERS STILL ON THE WAY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES, THANKFULLY. WE HAVE I DON’T KNOW HOW MANY WERE ON THE TRAIN, BUT THE CREW WAS NOT INJURED. THE CROSSING AT SEA, 25, WAS NOT DAMAGED, THOUGH THE BLACKTOP REMAINS CLOSED FOR NOW. UNION PACIFIC SAYS THE CLEANUP AND REBUILDING WHERE THE DERAILMENT HAPPENED WILL TAKE DAYS OR EVEN POSSIBLY WEEKS. IN FRANKLIN COUNTY, ANDREW MOLLENBECK

Train derailment spills asphalt into creek near Hampton

Union Pacific says the derailment happened about 3:30 a.m. Monday. About 44 cars derailed.

Updated: 6:23 PM CDT Sep 5, 2022

A train derailed just north of Hampton Monday morning, overturning dozens of cars, destroying a bridge and causing a spill into a creek.Union Pacific says the derailment happened about 3:30 a.m. Monday and approximately 44 cars derailed. “During that derailment, some of the tank cars were carrying asphalt, and we had a spill,” said Robynn Tysver, a spokesperson for Union Pacific. “That spill has been contained. We have hazmat crews on site.”No crew members were injured, and the cause of the derailment is under investigation. “We have more than 50 personnel on site,” Tysver said. “We have more en route. The focus right now is going to be on cleanup and then the focus will return to remediation.”Previous coverage:

HAMPTON, Iowa —

A train derailed just north of Hampton Monday morning, overturning dozens of cars, destroying a bridge and causing a spill into a creek.

Union Pacific says the derailment happened about 3:30 a.m. Monday and approximately 44 cars derailed.

“During that derailment, some of the tank cars were carrying asphalt, and we had a spill,” said Robynn Tysver, a spokesperson for Union Pacific. “That spill has been contained. We have hazmat crews on site.”

No crew members were injured, and the cause of the derailment is under investigation.

“We have more than 50 personnel on site,” Tysver said. “We have more en route. The focus right now is going to be on cleanup and then the focus will return to remediation.”

Previous coverage: