SANTA FE — A 22-car train derailment in Santa Fe Thursday morning forced mandatory evacuations within a mile of the incident. About 75 people were forced to leave their homes because one car was leaking liquid asphalt.
"It was like a thunder-type thing. It shook the house," said Mary Cothey, a long-time resident. "It’s kind of scary. I don’t know if I want to live by the railroad tracks any longer. And I’ve been there almost thirty years."
The evacuation order was lifted for nearly everyone about two hours later after the railroad line determined the asphalt wasn't a hazard, Santa Fe police Capt. Wayne Kessler said.
No injuries were reported, Kessler said.
"We are extremely fortunate," said Tommy Anderson, chief of Santa Fe Fire & Rescue. "We could have had a train car that easily could have ruptured or had a propane leak. It could have gone through one of the businesses or something of that nature."
Authorities knocked on doors on Avenue L and 18th Street near City Hall to alert residents to the derailment just south of state Highway 6.
"The dogs were barking. Somebody was tapping on the door. And phones ringing like crazy," said Chuck Cothey, a long-time resident.
The school district opened the junior high gymnasium for those displaced. No classes were interrupted because of the evacuation order, school district officials said.
Police had state Highway 6 and Highway 646 traffic into Santa Fe blocked for about two hours. About a dozen businesses were closed while crews cleaned up the mess.
Santa Fe’s mayor tells us speed has long been a concern here. Two years ago, the speed limit for trains through town was raised from 35 miles an hour to 55.
"We were concerned about the speed coming through because the greater the speed, the greater the catastrophe if there is a problem," said Ralph Stenzel, mayor of Santa Fe.
The city of Santa Fe is offering assistance to anyone who can't get back to their home.
This story was brought to you thanks to khou.com's partnership with The Galveston County Daily News.
