Train derailment cleanup continues

• By UPDATE BY 2THEADVOCATE.COM STAFF
• Published: May 18, 2008 - UPDATED: 9:45 p.m.

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7:55 p.m.

As of 6:30 p.m. Louisiana State Poline in conjunction with local law enforcement and public safety agencies on the ground reduced the evacuation radius around clean up site to 1000 feet.

Residents within the old radius and outside of 1000 feet from the derailment and spill site will be allowed to return home at this time.

State Police consider the clean up process ongoing as it continues through the night.

Information from a State Police press release.

Clean up of the area around Saturday's train derailment  in northwestern Lafayette is moving quickly and on track, according to Louisiana State Police Hazardous Materials department.

The one mile evacuation radius is still in effect and the road closure will also remain in effect. 

Around 7:30 p.m. Saturday evening Louisiana State Police and DOTD closed I-10 in both directions at Ambassador Caffey Parkway. 
This closure was due to the uprighting of one of the derailed train cars.  Interstate-10 was re-opened at 9:09 p.m.

Red Cross Officials say the Carencro High School shelter was closed at 9 p.m. last night and all 40 to 50 families were put up in hotels for the night. 

Information from a State Police press release.

By RICHARD BURGESS and PATRICK COURREGES
Advocate Acadiana Bureau
LAFAYETTE — An early Saturday morning train derailment in northwestern Lafayette spurred an evacuation order for several thousand city residents.

Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office Lt. Craig Stansbury said the derailment happened between 2:30 a.m. and 3 a.m. but did not cause major injuries. It occurred on the railroad track which passes under the Ambassador Caffery Parkway overpass near the road’s intersection with Cameron Street.

Stansbury said six rail cars jumped the tracks and at least one, carrying hydrochloric acid, ruptured and was leaking.