Tag Archives: Mer Rouge LA

Argon, Canadian regulation, Crude By Rail, Derailment, Explosion, Federal Regulation (U.S.), Fire, Rail accidents, Railroad crossings, Saskatchewan Canada, Tank car design, Toxic smoke

Rachel Maddow: Train explosion, collision (DRAMATIC VIDEO)

Repost from MSNBC, Rachel Maddow Show
[Editor: Incredible video footage of two early October train crashes, and excellent Rachel Maddow commentary.  (Live video of the train crash at minute 2:10.)  Apologies for the 20-second commercial ad that precedes the video.  – RS]

Train explosion, collision demonstrate oil shipping dangers

Rachel Maddow, 10/07/14


Rachel Maddow reports on a train derailment and subsequent fire in Canada, which follows on the heels of a dramatic train crash in Louisiana as the oil and rail industries try to push back the deadline for new federal safetly requirements.

Argon, Rail accidents, Railroad crossings

Unbelievably no casualties – locomotive slams into truck at full speed (VIDEO)

Repost from KNOE 8 News, Monroe, Louisiana

Train derailment in Mer Rouge, Louisiana (VIDEO)

KNOE 8 News; KNOE-TV; KNOE.com |

MER ROUGE, La. (KNOE 8 News) – Tuesday 10/7 update: KNOE 8 News has learned that the two railroad employees injured in Sunday’s train derailment are now both being treated for their injuries in a Shreveport hospital.

Mer Rouge Police Chief Mitch Stevens says the train engineer has a compound fracture to his leg and some bumps and bruises. The chief says the conductor has numerous broken ribs. He had surgery to remove his spleen and heart surgery related to the broken ribs.

KNOE 8 News is back in Mer Rouge Tuesday continuing to work on this story and what possibly may be done to make this crossing safer.KNOE 8 News; KNOE-TV; KNOE.com |

Previous Story:

MER ROUGE, La. (KNOE 8 News)- KNOE has received some dramatic video from the train accident that took place Sunday in Mer Rouge.

It was shot by a couple waiting at the tracks as the tractor trailer struggled to get off.

We want to remind you this was not fatal and all involved are in stable condition.

Crystal Carter is a sales clerk at the gas station right next to the tracks where this train derailed, she saw it all happen.

She remembers hearing loud bang when the train hit the trailer.

“When I saw that everybody started running and everything and everything else just piled up back here. I was so scared I was frozen I didn’t know what to do,” Crystal said.

Crystal says she has seen this happen before, in the very same spot. The last time the bang wasn’t so loud.

Crystal says some improvements should be made at the crossing.

“I believe it’s really time to get that fixed because it’s to low. for somebody to be coming through here in a truck,” Crystal said.

“We’ve had three fatalities down here at this other crossing and this is the second 18 wheeler crash we have had right here,” Mer Rouge Police Chief Mitch Stephens said.

Initially homes around the the crash were evacuated. Once it was determined the leaking argon posed no threat, residents were allowed to go home and clean-up began.

“We’ve had louisiana hazmat here. we’ve had the department of environmental equality. We’ve had the Governors Office of Homeland Security. We’ve had state police that has been assisting,” Stephens said.

Chief Stephens says the tracks are scheduled to reopen Tuesday. A full clean-up will take several more days.

Crystal hopes something can be done to keep this from happening again.

She says this time no one died, but it may be a different story next time.