Two people were left dead and three injured when a Union Pacific freight train derailed as a result of a collision in Pecos, Texas. The train collided with a tractor-trailer that was at a halt, and consequently derailed at around 5 p.m. on Wednesday, December 18, 2024.
As per OA Online, the incident took place at a railway crossing, and the freight train crashed into the Chamber of Commerce building immediately. Union Pacific has since revealed that two employees' lives were claimed, while the others sustained minor injuries. According to Fox News, the two men were identified as Clay Burt and Phillip Araujo.
All we know about the freight train accident as investigations are underway
Union Pacific said in a statement to Fox News:
"This devastating accident serves as a somber reminder of the inherent risks railroad workers face daily, and it highlights the critical need for urgent safety improvements across the industry." They continued, noting that they are "saddened by the loss of two Union Pacific family members in Pecos, Texas, and extend our deepest sympathies to their families and the employees who worked alongside them."
At the time, three of the cars were hoarding potentially hazardous materials, including lithium-ion batteries, leaked diesel fuel, and airbags, though none of them were impacted in the derailment.
Ronald Lee, emergency services chief for Reeves County, revealed that some of the individuals in the Chamber of Commerce building had been hurt, noting that the damage to the structure was “significant enough” to prevent anyone from entering it until it could be examined and cleared by an engineer.
Pecos Police Chief, Lisa Tarango, also stated in the wake of the accident:
"Our condolences and sincere heartfelt sympathy goes out to the families as well as the Union Pacific Railroad family as well, as these were veteran employees in that agency."
Tarango also revealed that the individuals who sustained "minor injuries" have since been treated and released from medical care at Reeves Regional Health. The National Transportation Safety Board also took to X on December 19 to confirm that six NTSB investigators have been deployed to look cleanup, while an investigation surrounding the details of the incident is underway.
Senator Ted Cruz, R-Texas, also took to X to affirm that he and his team are staying on top of the incident:
"My state team and I are tracking the the(sic) ongoing developments surrounding the train derailment in Pecos, Texas. We are coordinating with the NTSB and local law enforcement to investigate how this deadly incident occurred and how we can prevent accidents like this in the future," he penned.
As reported by Fox News, the SMART-TD has also revealed that it will be looking into the incident in collaboration with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB):
"Rail workers do vital work, often at great personal risk. As we mourn this loss, we also renew our commitment to fighting for stronger safety measures that will serve to better protect all those who work on and live near the rails," they said.
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As per OA Online, images taken of the incident indicate that the freight train was hosting metal shipping containers that were stacked more than it should have been carrying. At this time, further details remain unknown.
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