DUPONT, Wash. (KOIN) — When Amtrak Train 501 derailed and tumbled onto southbound I-5, diesel fuel from one of the locomotives spilled. At least 250 gallons of diesel spilled, bringing hazmat teams to the area.
Sahra Orozco, whose family owns the property where the train derailed in Dupont, Washington, told KOIN 6 News her biggest concern is the impact on the watershed.
“If it poisons the watershed, it’s going to poison everyone in the valley and everyone in the valley depends on that water,” she said.
Orozco said her family has owned the 38.5 acres of land since the 1800s. The train derailed where the head watershed meets the valley, which goes into the Red Salmon Creek, she said — and she’s been opposed to the passenger trains on this section of railway.
Washington State Patrol Capt. Dan Hall said his understanding “is it is contained to the soil and has not gone into the waterway. They have put absorbant material down and have taken some steps to prevent any further contamination.”
Hall also said workers will remain at the site all night. “We have NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board) folks along with State Patrol and the heavy machine operators. They are going to be working to disassemble where it needs to be and then clear the road, clear those tracks and start to clear the road.”
Three people are confirmed dead and about 100 people were taken to the hospital. A total of 77 passenger and 7 crew were aboard the train when it derailed.
A 20-member team from the NTSB is the lead investigative agency. They will look at all the key indicators, including speed, the black box and condition of the tracks.
“We will work closely and cooperate fully with all the authorities,” said Amtrak spokesperson Marc Magliari. “At this time we will not speculate about the cause and we encourage others not to speculate as well.”
At this time, I-5 southbound remains closed.
KOIN 6 News will continue to follow this story.