Downtown Los Angeles Train Derailment Prompts Hazmat Response

Downtown Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA: A freight train derailed just after 10:00 p.m. in Downtown Los Angeles Thursday night, Feb. 9, when a Union Pacific engine was traveling northbound through a yard located below the 1st, 4th, and 6th Street bridges on the Mission Street side of the river.

The train was moving mixed freight which included tank cars through the yard. The derailment occurred when, for unknown reasons, the train split a switch under the 6th Street Bridge. Half of the train continued on the passing track, while the other tail end continued down a siding with parked tank cars.

A collision appeared to have occurred between the parked cars and the moving train just past the 4th Street Bridge.

Three to four tank cars were observed on the ground.

There is a placard on one tank car displaying “1933”, but no hazardous chemical could be found with this number. There is an entry for diesel fuel which is “1993”perhaps indicating a possible error on the placard.

The Los Angeles Fire Department responded with their Hazmat resources, but cleared the scene at approximately 12:45 a.m. Friday.

Zak Holman, Video Journalist / KNN