BREAKING NEWS Train carrying hazardous materials derails in downtown Middlebury Officials evacuate residents, business owners and students

Author: Kathryn Flagg

Oct. 22 - Residents and business owners in downtown Middlebury were evacuated this afternoon after a train carrying hazardous materials derailed while traveling through town.

The accident, which included up to 14 railway cars according to State Trooper Steve Coote, occurred around 2 p.m. The cars were carrying nearly 26,000 gallons of gasoline. No injuries have been reported at the scene of the accident.

The accident occurred when a tank car derailed across the river from Mr. Ups, near Water Street. The resulting fire was put out quickly, but gasoline being carried by the derailed cars is leaking at the scene of the accident and is, said Middlebury Chief of Police Tom Hanley in an e-mail to WCAX, "approaching or entering Otter Creek."

Firefighters on the scene lowered a barricade into the river from Battell Bridge, hoping to prevent downstream contamination.

"The fumes are definitely detectable," said Alex Reynolds '11, an employee at Forth n' Goal, standing on the stoop of the business while policemen, firemen and other state officials on the scene directed traffic and pedestrians.

By 3:30 p.m., nine fire departments offering mutual aid had arrived at the scene, joining, the Middlebury Police and Fire Departments, rescue squads, Vermont Railway officials and state hazardous material units.

Students at Middlebury Union High School were evacuated to the local middle school, and the earliest evacuation orders also included Mary Hogan Elementary School, surrounding day care centers in the area and businesses on Merchant's Row and part of Main Street. In addition to Merchant's Row and Main Street, Court Street, North Pleasant Street, Seymour Street and Elm Street were close and evacuated.

At the College, the evacuation zone extended to include Twilight Hall, the New Library and student housing on Storrs Avenue, Shannon Street, Weybridge Street, South Main Street and parts of College Street. Public Safety officers went door-to-door to inform students of the evacuation order, and evacuated students were advised to congregate at Ross Dining Hall.

"It's like a snow day in October," said Nancie Dunn, owner of Sweet Cecily. Business owners on Main Street were initially frustrated by the lack of information being conveyed to businesses that had not yet been evacuated.

"I figure that if we were really in danger, the 14 policemen standing outside my door might tell me," Dunn said shortly before the order came at 3:40 p.m. to evacuate all of Main Street.

The Department of Public Safety did not have any information about the length of the evacuation and was waiting, according to a dispatcher at the call center, for more information from Middlebury town officials.

Officials on scene were also unable to estimate length of the evacuation or the clean up process. "It's going to be a long process," said Sgt. Don Isabelle of the Fish and Wildlife Service.

"It could be hours, it could be a day," said Coote.

6:28 p.m. - The Department of Public Safety is reporting that the initial clean up could take between 10 and 12 hours. The College's Public Affairs office is posting updates on the College's Web site, and students away from campus during the break are being encouraged to check the Web site before returning to campus. Students affected by the evacuation have been asked to check in with Director of Public Safety Lisa Boudah to make plans for interim housing.