Truck Hauling East Palestine Derailment Soil Overturns

A commercial vehicle hauling 40,000 pounds of contaminated soil from East Palestine, Ohio, where a Norfolk Southern train derailed in February, overturned a few miles away from the site Monday, spilling about half its contents onto a rural roadway and berm. 

The Ohio Highway Patrol reported the truck was involved in a crash on state Route 165 near Waterford Road in Columbiana County, Youngstown CBS affiliate WKBN reported.

The police said the tractor-trailer, which was heading north, went off the right side of the road and hit a ditch and a utility pole before rolling over onto its right side, spilling the contaminated soil. 

The driver, Phillip Falck, 74, of McDonald, Pennsylvania, was cited for operating a vehicle without reasonable control. He suffered minor injuries.

The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, which was called to the scene along with a local fire department, said the spill was contained and did not threaten nearby waterways.

After the accident, the Ohio Department of Transportation closed Route 165 from state Route 617 in Mahoning County to state Route 14 in Columbiana County, The Vindicator in nearby Youngstown reported.

The Ohio Highway Patrol said Monday night the road was remaining closed for several more hours. 

As of Monday, a pile of approximately 17,400 tons of excavated soil was waiting for removal from East Palestine, while 18,900 tons have been removed, reported Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine’s office, quoting the Ohio EPA. In addition, 10.8 million gallons of liquid wastewater have been hauled out of East Palestine.