FELA Lawyer News Blog

INDUSTRY, CA – A Union Pacific train derailed in the City of Industry, CA on Monday, July 12, 2010 at around 10:50 p.m. The derailment occurred along a section of track that runs between Fullerton Road and South Lemon Ave. alongside Valley Blvd.

The City of Industry is located in Los Angeles, County in southern California about 20 miles southeast of Los Angeles, about 116 miles northwest of San Diego, about 401 miles southeast of San Francisco, about 404 miles southeast of Sacramento and about 47 miles southwest of San Bernardino.

A locomotive and a rail car at the back of  a 93-car freight train derailed in the incident. The locomotive tilted but did not turn over and the rail car ran off the tracks, but also remained upright. The train was heading from Los Angeles to Illinois.

The derailment damaged the asphalt in three intersections and wiped out about two miles of track. The damaged intersections were at Fullerton Road, Fairway Drive and South Lemon Ave.

Railroad officials have determined that the derailment was caused by a broken rail, At this time, Union Pacific officials do not know why the rail broke.

Fortunately, there were no injuries in the mishap.

Crews began work repairing the damaged tracks on Tuesday. Crews used bulldozers to clear the damaged track and rail ties. The tracks were so completely damaged that in some places only rock and gravel was visible.

In an article in the Whittier Daily News website, Aaron Hunt, media relations director for the Union Pacific Railroad pointed out some facts. He said that the weight of the cars can cause significant damage to the tracks, pointing out that they can weigh up to 250,000 pounds. He said, “It can warp a distance of our track for quite a ways.” Hunt also said that summer heat could sometimes cause a rail to swell.

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Published by FELA lawyer Gordon, Elias & Seely, LLP

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