A Tuesday morning train derailment is blocking Kentucky 475/Tress Shop Road, with the shelter-in-place lifted for Trenton residents.
Todd County Emergency Management Director Ash Groves told Your WEKT News Edge that around 31 train cars derailed, at least two were carrying molten sulfur, and one of those cars is completely disintegrated.
The road will be closed for an indefinite period while cleanup crews work on-site. U.S. 41 between Pembroke and Trenton is also shut down.
Hazmat crews out of Hopkinsville were called to assist at the scene. Groves said they are working to put out the fire and dam up the area with dirt to prevent the spread of the sulfur.
Around 200 feet of train track is blocked by this derailment. Four crew members were aboard the train when the derailment occurred.
Hopkinsville Fire Department crews utilized drone technology to gain a bird’s-eye perspective of the incident. (Photo provided by HFD)
Groves added that no injuries have been reported. The timeline for completing the cleanup remains uncertain.
Governor Andy Beshear released a statement:
What is molten sulfur?
Commonly found in oil refineries and transport tankers, molten sulfur is a hazardous liquid kept at extreme temperatures exceeding 240°F. While vital for manufacturing fertilizers, it poses a triple threat: it causes severe thermal burns on contact, releases lethal hydrogen sulfide gas that can deaden the sense of smell, and burns with a nearly invisible blue flame that produces toxic smoke. Furthermore, any contact with water can trigger a violent steam explosion, making containment and emergency response exceptionally dangerous.
Photos taken by WEKT’s John Godsey
