Railroad Worker Injured by Crane at Site of CSX Train Derailment in Gore West Virgina

February 12th, 2013 |

GORE, W.Va. — A railroad worker was struck in the head on Sunday, Feb. 10, by a crane at the site of a CSX train derailment that occurred on Saturday in Gore, West Virginia, where a CSX locomotive and about five freight cars carrying coal derailed because of a rock slide.

Photo shows site of CSX train derailment on Feb. 9, 2013 in Gore West Virginia.

According to Spelter Fire Chief Matt Shingleton, the worker’s injury occurred at about 1:00 p.m. Sunday after a crane hit the worker in the head. Shingleton said that the injury didn’t appear to be life-threatening and the worker was able to walk to an ambulance.

The worker was identified as a contractor with R. J. Corman Railroad Group from Kentucky.

According to CSX spokesman Robert Sullivan, the train derailment happened on Saturday, Feb. 9, at about 4:30 p.m. near the Division of Highways garage off U.S. 19, which caused about 1,000 gallons of diesel fuel to leak from the engine. Some of the fuel entered the West Fork River, but most was contained on site, Sullivan said.

Coal was spilled when the freight cars left the track, he added.

The incident remains under investigation at this time.

Blog post by Gordon, Elias & Seely, a FELA lawyer and West Virginia railroad injury lawyer who publishes train accidents and FELA legal news from across the United States.