On February 15, 2018 at 4:03 p.m., the Communications Division at the Wyoming County Sheriff’s Office received a 9-1-1 call of a train derailment near the East Main Road intersection in the Town of Attica.
Submitted by Hannah Jo Wiater
The Attica Fire Department responded to the scene. Attica Fire Chief Jay Myers reports, “Two engines and approximately ten railroad cars derailed of the Norfolk Southern Railroad. The railroad cars were carrying new cars as cargo.”
Chief Myers also stated there were two railroad personnel on the engine that were injured. They were taken to ECMC.
Submitted by Tim Pohl
“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.”
Wyoming County Emergency Services Director, Anthony Santoro is on scene coordinating efforts from the federal, state, local and railroad resources.
Wyoming County Sheriff Gregory Rudolph says, “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.”
The mutual aid resources that responded and assisted were: Alexander Fire Department, Varysburg Fire Department, Bennington Fire Department, Wyoming County Emergency Services and Hazmat Team, Genesee County Emergency Services and Hazmat Team, the New York State Police, the Attica Fire Department and Wyoming Correctional Facility.
Norfolk Southern personnel are on scene and making efforts to clear the Route 238 and East Main Road intersections with an estimated time of 10:00 p.m.
The long term cleanup of the damaged engines and rail cars will be days.