Soil removal continues near railcar leak

Associated Press

WILLARD, Ohio

Cleanup crews are working to remove soil impacted after a Tuesday train derailment in northern Ohio damaged a railcar that leaked flammable liquid and forced the evacuation of hundreds of homes.

CSX Corp. spokesman Gary Sease said 20 to 25 homes remained unoccupied Friday evening and the soil removal will continue at least into today.

He said fire officials will determine when those families can return home.

Sease said environmental teams have been monitoring the air and determined it safe for those who have already been allowed to return homes.

The railcar damaged in the derailment in Willard leaked about half of its 26,000 gallons of styrene monomer, which is used to make plastic and rubber products.

Willard is about 65 miles southwest of Cleveland.