BRADENTON, Fla. — A total of seven train cars derailed Tuesday in the Bradenton area, with two of them carrying propane fuel, Southern Manatee Fire Rescue Chief Robert Bounds explains.
It happened at 11:20 a.m. in the area of 301 Boulevard East and 16th Street East.
Six of the cars, including one of the propane tankers, reportedly jumped off the tracks and fell over on their side. The seventh car in question, the second propane tanker, jumped the track as well but didn't tip over. The rest of the cars were hauling sheet rock.
According to the chief, the propane tanker on its side was full of around 30,000 gallons of product.
Bounds stressed no one was hurt in the derailment, and there are no known leaks.
Later in the evening, Chief Bounds told 10 Tampa Bay that Manatee County Fire and Rescue had come to an agreement with the train company Seminole Gulf Railway to bring in heavy equipment to lift the propane-filled cars and put them back on the track.
"The mitigation plan we've agreed to is not to off-load the material due to the integrity of the car being solid," Bounds said. "We'll be on scene when they do upright it, with all our personnel, in the event that something does go wrong."
Bounds said the process could take up to a week.
The Florida Department of Transportation released a statement regarding the overturned rail cars.
"An active investigation is underway for a train derailment that took place earlier today in Manatee County," the statement reads.
"Although this is a privately owned railroad, FDOT is closely monitoring conditions, prepared to support our rail partners, and standing by for additional guidance from the Federal Railway Administration.
"Currently, the Department has been informed that while the train was carrying hazardous material, there have been no leaks detected from any of the railcars involved and no fatalities have been reported."
Michael Callanan is a rail safety expert and consultant who said the focus of the investigation will be on the track and wheel conditions.
"I'd be looking at the condition of the tracks, obviously, because it looked like the tracks were totally torn up," Callanan explained. "Also, the wheels of the train have a tendency to fail, and that could have very well contributed to ripping up the tracks themselves."
Callanan said minor derailments happen all the time, but something of this scale is rare.
"Obviously, the major responsibility lays upon the railroad Seminole Gulf Railway. they own the tracks. they own the equipment," he added.
10 Tampa Bay reached out to Seminole Gulf Railway for comment on the incident and active investigation and has not heard back.
Manatee County Emergency Medical Services, public safety and sheriff's office staff were dispatched to the scene to assist in clearing the tracks. Seminole Gulf Railway was also on scene along with the Federal Railroad Administration and Florida Department of Transportation.
"We are proud of our first responders," Manatee County Board of County Commissioners Chair Kevin Van Ostenbridge said in a previous statement. "Their quick action has helped maintain the safety and security of our citizens."
Bounds said between 150-200 feet of the track is "mangled beyond repair." There will have to be a total replacement for those sections.
And as of now, the chief says there is no true emergency surrounding the derailment – but there is potential for one. He warns nearby residents to be ready to evacuate if need be.