Train Derails In Nutley, Contaminated Soil Dumped Onto Tracks

A Norfolk Southern Train tipped off the tracks and derailed on Nutley on Saturday, spilling a load of contaminated soil and leaving a mess for local emergency workers.

According to the Nutley Police Department, the derailment took place around 3 p.m. on Saturday as the train was crossing at the intersection of Hillside Avenue and High Street.

When police arrived on the scene, they reportedly saw several cargo containers leaning hazardously off the tracks, with one container completely overturned, according to a NPD spokesman.

“It appears that the soil beneath the tracks gave way causing the train to tip,” Nutley police stated in a release.

No injuries were reported and there is no hazard to the public, police stated.

Multiple emergency response agencies worked the rest of the evening to upright the trains and contain any possible contaminant that may have spilled during the derailment, police said.

A Norfolk Southern spokesman told NJ.com that there was no air or water contamination resulting from the derailment, but that the cars contained soil with PCBs and stabilized lead.

The train was making a run from the old Roche Pharmaceuticals property at the time of the accident, NJ News 12 reported.

Photos courtesy of the Nutley Police Department