LYNCHBURG (WSLS 10) The National Transportation Safety Board determined that the probable cause of the Lynchburg train derailment in April of 2014 was a broken rail caused by a reverse detail fracture with evidence of rolling contact fatigue.
Thirteen train cars came off the tracks with three landing in the James River. Each of those were filled with about 30,000 gallons of Bakken crude oil, which leaked into the river affecting areas downstream of the crash site.
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Hundreds of people were evacuated from the downtown area.
The accident prompted lawmakers to study rail safety and to push for stronger regulation.
Virginia environmental officials say CSX Transportation Inc. agreed to pay over $361,000 in fines and $18,500 in investigation costs for the derailment.
The April 30 derailment saw 17 cars derail, with three going into the river and one catching fire. The DEQ says, of the crude oil that escaped the tank car, 98-percent was consumed in a fire.
The department said water quality checks of the James from Lynchburg to Richmond several days after the derailment found no environmental problems.
Read full report here.