SALEM Police find no wrongdoing in train wreck that spilled fuel

The spill is not expected to have a lasting effect.
By NORMAN LEIGH
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
SALEM -- Police will not be citing anyone in the train wreck that occurred last week, affecting utility lines and sending more than 2 thousand gallons of diesel fuel into a nearby creek.
The officer who investigated the Friday morning accident determined that the driver of a truck-crane did nothing wrong, police Lt. Don Beeson said Monday.
The truck-crane, owned by Diamond Steel Construction Co., Youngstown, became hung up on uneven terrain after most of the vehicle had crossed the tracks at South Ellsworth Avenue in an industrial section of the city. About 10 feet of the crane boom was left suspended over the rails.
Within about a minute of the rig's getting stuck, an eastbound Norfolk Southern freight train came through and jolted the boom, sending the truck-crane spinning.
Two of the train crewmen received minor injuries. The train was not derailed.
Diesel fuel cleaned up
The crash punctured a hole in a locomotive fuel tank, allowing about 2,700 gallons of diesel fuel to escape.
Most of it drained into nearby Stone Mill Run, Kara Allison of the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency said Monday.
Railroad officials called a private contractor in shortly after the wreck to begin cleaning up the spill, Allison said.
Cleanup occurred throughout the weekend and continued Monday with crews using absorbent material to mop up the spill, which was contained by Friday afternoon.
Stone Mill Run flows into Little Beaver Creek. None of the spilled fuel reached Little Beaver, Allison said.
An Ohio EPA official is monitoring the cleanup, which is expected to be completed by early this week.
"The accident didn't create any lasting environmental effects," Allison said.
It's unclear who will bear the costs associated with the accident.
Typically, when private parties are involved, they sort out among themselves who will pay, Allison said.
If necessary, the Ohio EPA will investigate and determine the responsible party, which is usually saddled with costs.
City's cost undetermined
Mayor Larry DeJane said Monday he didn't know how much expense the city's fire and police departments incurred in responding to the accident.
DeJane said safety director Scott Cranmer will likely review the episode and recommend to the administration whether to bill someone for costs.
Cranmer was unavailable Monday.
Ohio Edison had to fix electric lines affected by the crash.
Repairs required shutting down power to parts of the city about noon Friday. Most residential and business customers had power restored by about 2 p.m. Industrial users didn't have power returned until about 11 p.m. Friday.
leigh@vindy.com