ATTICA, NY - A train derailed in Wyoming County Thursday afternoon.
Just after 4 pm Thursday, the Wyoming County Sheriff's Office received a call about a train derailment near the East Main Road intersection in Attica.
"Two engines and approximately ten railroad cars derailed of the Norfolk Southern Railroad. The railroad cars were carrying new cars as cargo." said Attica Fire Chief Jay Myers. "The lead engine is on fire and in coordination with the Norfolk Southern, the engine will remain burning, primarily due to the difficult location of the derailment."
According to Myers, two railroad personnel were injured and taken to ECMC. No fatalities have been reported.
Anthony Santoro, Wyoming County Emergency Services Director, remains on the scene (as of 8:20 pm Thursday). According to him, Alexander Fire, Varysburg Fire, Bennington Fire, Wyoming County Emergency Services and Hazmat Team, Genesee County Emergency Services and Hazmat Team, NYS Police, Attica Fire, and Wyoming Correctional Facility all assisted in the response.
As far as what caused the derailment, Wyoming County Sheriff Gregory Rudolph notes, “an initial investigation was conducted and we are turning over our investigation to the Norfolk South Railroad Police and the Federal Railroad Administration and a cause has not yet been determined.”
As of Friday morning, dozens of crews were set to arrive at 7:30am. The stretch of Main Street off Route 238, directly across from Attica Senior High School, remains closed off.
According to the Rudolph, the cleanup will take days.