Swaney: Freight train derailment still under investigation

The train derailment happened early Saturday morning between Fell Street and Vernon Avenue in Normal. (Scott Miller/WJBC)

 

By Neil Doyle

NORMAL – Emergency crews in Normal have been busy the last week. Everything from a train derailment, an accidental apartment fire, and winter weather.

Normal Fire Department spokesperson Matt Swaney provided an update on last weekend’s train derailment near Illinois State University.

“It is still under investigation,” Swaney told WJBC’s Scott Miller. “They are still working to clear the mess up from the derailment. It will probably be a while before we hear anything specifically about the cause.”

“It was certainly a mess and we were just fortunate it wasn’t any worse,” Swaney added.

Nobody was injured and there was no hazardous material involved.

Union Pacific crews laid down a temporary track and one line has reopened for service, said Swaney.

Neil Doyle can be reached at [email protected]

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…