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Train Leaks Hazardous Chemical in Susquehanna County

Train Leaks Hazardous Chemical in Susquehanna County - Saturday, August 8, 2009 at 6:30PM EST

Reported by: Kyla Campbell
Saturday, Aug 8, 2009 @ 06:30pm EST

HOP BOTTOM, SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY -- A hazardous material leaking from a train here forced dozens of families from their homes.

Emergency crews were notified just before 9am Saturday that a train on the railroad tracks along Route 11 between Hop Bottom and Kingsley was leaking hydrochloric acid.

"It was nerve-racking," said Debbie Spickerman, who was babysitting her infant grandson. "Because you get everything ready for the baby and everything."

Spickerman heard the news on her scanner. She and her neighbors were told by firefighters about a nearby train leaking hydrochloric acid.

"The fire company came up in a truck and told me it would be a good idea if i left the place," said Deborah Cobb, who asked the firefighters how dangerous the leak was. "He said, 'Well if you see a puff of smoke, you're dead, basically.'"

Cobb and her boyfriend, Kevin Jervis, left immediately with their dog.

Officials tell us it was a Norfolk Southern Train on Canadian Pacific Railway tracks leaking hydrochloric acid. A detector along the tracks between Kingsley and Hop Bottom sensed the vapor. The train engineer shut it down, and emergency crews took over. Volunteers tell Eyewitness News he was taken to the hospital for possible decontamination, but he should be fine.

Knowing people could be evacuated from their home for several hours, the Hop Bottom United Methodist Church invited everyone around who was evacuated to come in for food and drinks throughout the day. They also allowed them to bring their furry friends.

"They brought their pets down -- you can't leave the dog and the cat home," said the church's pastor, Phillip Richardson. He was happy to open the church doors to the community.

The evacuees were pleased to have a place to stay for a few hours. But they're still nervous.

"I know I'm going to worry about it all the time, because we have trains going by all the time," said Cobb.

"And you never know what's going to happen, if it's going to happen again," added Spickerman.

Spickerman says she's lived by the tracks for 21 years, and this is their first evacuation. She hopes for another two decades without any problems.

Crews on the scene told Eyewitness News any threat was over around one o'clock, and residents were allowed home shortly thereafter. The train car that had the leak is getting worked on. The exact cause of the leak remains under investigation.
 


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