Lake Forest Train Derailment Prompts Hazmat Response, Snarls Commute

LAKE FOREST, IL — A Union Pacific freight train derailed around Route 41 and Deerpath around 3:10 a.m. Wednesday morning.

11 cars left the tracks when Lake Forest emergency personnel arrived, but no injuries were reported, police said.

Lake and McHenry county hazardous materials teams were on scene as a precaution. No hazardous materials have been found leaking from any cars, according to police.

Air quality is being monitored, and there is no risk of fire or ongoing threat to the public, police said.

There may be ongoing, intermittent lane closures throughout the day on northbound Route 41 while recovery of the train cars takes place, according to police.

The right lane of US-41 along the train tracks near the Deer Path Golf Course remained closed around 7:00 a.m. this morning.

Nine of the 11 tanker cars the derailed were carrying molten sulfur, and federal officials have already mandated the type of tank car involved in this weeks accident be replaced because of safety concerns, according to the Lake Forester.

Lake Forest FD says 9-10 freight cars came off the track early this morning near 41/Deerpath. No leaking hazardous materials. pic.twitter.com/ZxOpLIlJ3j
— Sarah Jindra (@SarahJindra) March 15, 2017

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