Train Derailment in Kentucky

On January 16, 2007, a catastrophic train derailment, explosion, chemical fire, and chemical release occurred in Bullitt County, Kentucky, just south of Louisville. The catastrophe occurred immediately adjacent to the homes and property of a large number of Bullitt County residents. Intrepid firefighters responding to the disaster rescued some residents from certain death.

The rail cars involved in the catastrophe were owned and/or operated by CSX Corporation and/or CSX Transportation, Inc. In two lawsuits filed afterward, clients of Heninger Garrison Davis, LLC, alleged that CSX/CSXT, on their own accord and through their agents, servants, and employees, caused rail car derailment, explosion, fire, and chemical release. The substances released from the rail cars involved in the catastrophe were and are incendiary, dangerous, and ultra hazardous. The enormous conflagration that ensued engulfed and inundated the Plaintiffs’ property, residence, and persons with dangerous and injurious chemicals and pyrogenic products. Nearby waterways were dangerously contaminated.

The Plaintiffs in the two suits filed suffered fear, evacuation, personal injuries, mental anguish, property damage, economic loss, expenses for medications and for medical treatment, and other injuries and damages. The chemicals gruesomely injured one or more Plaintiffs who have been hospitalized in intensive care. The Plaintiffs claim that CSX/CSXT are strictly liable for that catastrophic harm and are guilty of negligence, nuisance, and trespass.

Local newspapers reported:

The northbound CSX train derailed between Brooks and Shepherdsville, Ky., just south of the Jefferson Bullitt County line on Huber Station Road near state road 1020. CSX spokesman Gary Sease reported the train consisted of four locomotives and 80 cars headed from Birmingham, Ala., to Louisville. Other cars involved in the fire were carrying the chemicals cyclohexane and ethyloxate, Bullitt County Emergency Management spokesman Jeremey Urekew said. Both chemicals are volatile, but neither poses a serious health threat, Urekew said. Two other cars were carrying hazardous materials that could pose an environmental threat, but they were not near the fire, he said. He said 41 cars were loaded with freight and the rest were empty.

Mark Rosenker, chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board, said the event recorder from the train would be sent to Washington for reading. The track had been inspected by CSX inspectors on Monday, Rosenker said. Results of toxicology tests performed on the two man crew were expected within two weeks, he said. A witness told WLKY that she was driving near the railroad tracks, and saw the train shake and then flip over. She added that a "huge" explosion followed the crash.

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