A freight train transporting gasoline and propane derailed near the Arizona-New Mexico border, igniting a blaze that engulfed approximately six rail cars. New Mexico State Police (NMSP) reported the incident, which prompted the closure of a vital trucking route.
According to NMSP Lieutenant Phil Vargas, the derailment occurred close to Houck, Arizona, and resulted in a prolonged fire that required hours to extinguish. Fortunately, there were no injuries reported in connection with the incident.
As a safety precaution, both east and westbound lanes of interstate highway I-40 near milepost 8 were shut down following the derailment. The McKinley County Sheriff’s Office indicated uncertainty regarding the reopening of the affected roads.
Lena Kent, a spokesperson for BNSF Railway, confirmed the derailment and assured that the crew remained unharmed. The incident is currently under investigation and is being treated as a hazardous materials incident, as reported by local media outlets. Authorities are actively probing the cause of the derailment to prevent similar incidents in the future.
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