CSX Train Carrying Chemicals Hits Truck and Explodes After Derailing in Rosedale, MD

June 4th, 2013 |

ROSEDALE, MD – A CSX train, carrying chemicals, ran into a trash truck in Rosedale, MD and then derailed and exploded causing a shock wave that sent a huge plume of black smoke into the sky. Rosedale is located in Baltimore County, MD in the northern part of the state about 6 miles northeast of Baltimore.

A CSX train derailed and exploded after hitting a trash truck in an industrial area of Rosedale, MD on May 28, 2013. The force of the explosion was so violent that the photo shows the metal siding was blown off a nearby warehouse next to the tracks.

The incident happened around 2:00 p.m.on Tuesday, May 28, in an industrial area of Rosedale where Lake Dr runs parallel to the tracks. The 45-car northbound train was being pulled by two locomotives.

Map shows location of CSX derailment and explosion after hitting a trash truck in Rosedale, MD on May 28, 2013 at a rail crossing near Lake Dr and 68th St southeast of Pulaski Hwy.

There are several metal buildings about 200 ft away from the tracks and the one nearest the explosion took a big hit, shattering the metal siding off the side of the building.

The 50 year-old trash truck driver was seriously injured in the accident. There were two railroad employees onboard the train who were not injured. Investgators are not sure why the truck the truck was on the tracks in the first place. There is a rail crossing right nearby close to Lake Dr and 68th St and it looks like that was the site of the initial impact. The rail crossing lies right on the path of the train. The engineer blew the train’s whistle to warn the truck off the tracks, but the collision was not avoided.

The train was carrying sodium chlorate, which is classified as a hazardous material. Sodium chlorate is known to be explosive under the right conditions, but the train was carrying other chemicals and investigators think some other chemical caused the explosion.

The National Transportation Safety Board is currently conducting an investigation of the incident.

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