More than 250 homes evacuated as train derails in Antelope Valley

At least 21 cars of a 68-car Union Pacific train heading south to Colton derails near Littlerock, southeast of Palmdale. Concerns about hazardous materials prompt the evacuations. No injuries are reported.

By Sam Quinones, Los Angeles Times

July 28, 2011
More than 250 homes in the Antelope Valley were evacuated Wednesday afternoon after a large Union Pacific freight train derailed.

No injuries were reported.

Union Pacific officials said the 68-car train was heading south to Colton when it derailed near Littlerock, southeast of Palmdale, about 1:25 p.m. At least 21 cars derailed. Officials remained on the scene investigating the cause of the accident late Wednesday.

Los Angeles County fire officials said 14 of the derailed cars were tankers that often carry hazardous materials or liquid. Union Pacific officials, however, said the train had only six such cars -- all of them empty.

By late Wednesday afternoon, the cars had been checked and no leaks or spills were found from any of them, said Aaron Hunt, a Union Pacific spokesman.

"We've checked every car on that train and we've cleared it all," he said.

The cars had been unloaded in Roseville, northeast of Sacramento, where the train originated, Hunt said.

As a precaution, fire officials asked residents from 87th Street East to 106th Street East between Avenue S and Avenue T to evacuate. Residents were directed to Almondale Middle School, at 9330 E. Avenue U.

The evacuation order was expected to stay in effect until no later than noon Thursday.

L.A. County Fire Department officials established a 2,000-foot evacuation corridor along the segment of track where the derailment occurred. Authorities said it appears the train derailed in a middle section, not the front cars, as is more typical.