LOWER SAUCON TWP., Pa. — Early this morning part of a Norfolk Southern freight train went off the tracks in Northampton County.
The derailment sent two locomotives down an embankment and partially into the Lehigh River.
The incident was first reported around 7:15 a.m. near the 2200 block of Riverside Drive in the Steel City section of Lower Saucon Township.
A news conference was streamed live on WFMZ.com at 11 a.m.
During the news conference,, officials said that diesel fuel had spilled into the Lehigh River but that the spill had been contained. Polypropylene pellets were also leaking from one of the train's cars.
Officials say they believe three trains were involved in the derailment, but they did not say what caused it.
Norfolk Southern is on site and working to assess the situation, according to WFMZ News.
No injuries were reported, and there was no hazardous materials threat to the public, according to officials.
Photo courtesy Mike Nester
Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure and Lower Saucon Township Police Chief Thomas Barndt also held a news conference at 11 a.m.
"Some of the cars that were derailed were marked as holding hazardous material, but they were empty," Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure said. "Air monitoring is being conducted, all is at normal levels and there is no danger to the general public at this time."
According to Michael Stamets, public information officer for the Nancy Run Fire Company, two locomotive engines landed in the water, and several train cars were derailed.
Lower Saucon Fire Rescue and Northampton County Emergency Management Services are working with multiple local and state agencies on this incident.
Photo courtesy Nancy Run Fire Company
Booms were placed around the locomotives to contain the spill of diesel fuel.
"There is no immediate danger, and the river will be fine," McClure said. He also said, this derailment is not going to cause that kind of problem.
Today's accident raised the issue of the 2023 train accident in East Palestine, Ohio. in which Norfolk Southern train cars were carrying hazardous materials and led to evacuations.
WFMZ reported that Lower Saucon Township Council President Priscilla deLeon heard the crash at her Steel City home, where she has resided since 1985 and has been concerned for years about water runoff weakening the soil beneath the train tracks.
Bethlehem Township Volunteer Fire Company
deLeon said, "I heard a noise around 7 a.m. and thought it was thunder"
She said evacuating her neighborhood would be difficult. "There are more than 250 homes in Steel City," shes said.
The county is asking people stay away from the site in order that emergency crews can do their job.
McClure said, “The most important thing we can do for our first responders is stay away from the site”
Riverside Drive was closed at Hillclimb Saturday morning due to the derailment, according to WFMZ.
In a statement, Norfolk Southern said, "We appreciate the quick, professional response by local emergency agencies. Our crews and contractors are on-scene and developing a clean-up plan."
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has also been notified about the incident.
Norfolk Southern operates over 36,000 miles of track, with more than 4,000 locomotives and 87,000 rail cars.
Photos courtesy Mike Nester