The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and other federal groups are checking what happened on Friday when a freight train derailed on the border of Arizona and New Mexico.
The NTSB says the BNSF freight train had gasoline and propane with no smell when it derailed near Manuelito, New Mexico.
The train that derailed caught fire, making dark smoke come out of the cars. The nearby highway had to close because of this. Thankfully, no one got hurt.
“The road I-40 EB is still closed at US 191. Expect to wait and find a different way. We don’t know when the road will open again,” the Arizona Department of Transportation said on a social media site.
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is leading the check. NTSB workers are on their way to the place, according to the NTSB.
FRA safety workers got to the place on Friday night and will work with state, Tribal, and local groups.
The Apache County Sheriff’s Office, which was one of the police groups that helped with the problem, said the derailment is being treated as a dangerous stuff problem.
Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs (D) is worried about what happened.
“I am very worried about the train accident on the border between Arizona and New Mexico and am watching it carefully,” Hobbs said. “My group is talking to Secretary [Pete] Buttigieg and the New Mexico government. When we find out more about what’s going on, Arizona will be ready to send help to keep our towns safe.”
Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren said his group is worried about the safety and health “of our people and those directly hit by this problem.”
Nygren said he talked with Buttigieg about the problem.
“My group is working with the U.S. Department of Transportation, the Federal Railroad Administration, and BNSF to find out exactly what happened,” Nygren said. “These experts will join the help from the Navajo Department of Health, Navajo Police Department, and other tribal help that’s already at the place keeping it safe.”
