Early Saturday morning, the Purcell community experienced a disruption when a BNSF Railway train carrying hazardous materials and alcohol derailed. The incident, which occurred near Jefferson Street and North Canadian Avenue in Purcell, was reported at about 2:20 a.m. Officials quickly responded to the scene where multiple train cars had overturned. Despite the potential danger associated with the materials being transported, BNSF officials assured the public that the derailment did not pose an immediate risk. This sentiment was echoed in statements they released, which were reported by KOCO and OKC FOX.
The Purcell Police Department, having been alerted to the derailment around 2:45 a.m., was on scene with specialized hazardous materials teams for further evaluation. They confirmed, "No hazardous materials compromised and no injuries," according to a statement received by KOCO. The clean-up effort involved re-railing all affected cars by 3:50 p.m. the same day. Residents are expected working to clear the area affected by the derailment by Sunday, officials informed.
Crews labored throughout the day to mitigate the effects of the derailment and begin the clean-up process. While the situation was swiftly brought under control, the derailment prompted the police to advise residents to avoid the area while the clean-up was ongoing. This precautionary measure was intended to ensure public safety and facilitate the prompt restoration of normalcy.
The Purcell Police Department also took to social media to inform the public about the containment of the situation. The train, which was described as carrying "hazardous materials (N.O.S.) and alcohol," had four of its cars overturned during the incident, as noted in a report by KFOR. The hastened specialty teams were monitoring the stability of the containers, ensuring that their contents did not pose any further risk to the populace. BNSF Railway is currently investigating the cause of the derailment, and further details will be forthcoming as they are available.
