"EAST PALESTINE, Ohio - A U.S. train derailment that spilled toxic chemicals in an Ohio town might have been avoided if the railway company's alarm system had given engineers an earlier warning that bearings were overheating, the chair of the National Transportation Safety Board said on Thursday with the release of a preliminary investigation.
"Had there been a detector earlier, that derailment may not have occurred," NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy told reporters in Washington. The incident prompted the evacuation of thousands of people and ignited health concerns.
While stressing a final report on the Feb. 3 derailment in East Palestine could be 18 months away, she said the NTSB could recommend that railroad companies lower the temperature thresholds that would trigger an alarm about overheated bearings."
Julio Cesar Chavez and Brad Brooks report for Reuters February 23, 2023.
SEE ALSO:
"NTSB Chair Decries Politicization Of East Palestine Train Disaster" (The Hill)
"Four Systemic Safety Issues The East Palestine Crash Report May Point To" (The Hill)
"5 Unanswered Questions On East Palestine Derailment After Preliminary NTSB Report" (The Hill)
"More Than 43,000 Aquatic Animals Are Dead Near Ohio Train Derailment" (Washington Post)
"Toxic Wastewater From Ohio Train Derailment Moved To Texas" (AP)
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