Photo Credit: Kristine Bellino By Kristine Bellino
July 21, 2015
UTICA, NY
07/21/2015 10:08pm Utica Police have released the following statement regarding today’s “runaway train:”
“Tonight, around 5:25 p.m. UPD officers responded to the area of Schuyler St. for the report of a runaway train.
A minute later they received a call for an accident at Schuyler St. and Oriskany St, involving a train and car. The car sustained heavy damage, but the driver received only minor injuries.
The train was gone from the scene. Three minutes later officers were sent to Union station for a train that struck the building.
It is believed that a train car somehow came free of it’s brakes alongside route 12 near Lenox Ave. It rolled slowly north threw west Utica down Schuyler St, eventually striking an old out of service locomotive on display at Union station.
That locomotive and train car then struck the building, causing extensive damage. Several agencies responded, including UPD, UFD, Oneida County Emergency management, CSX railroad, Susquehanna Railroad, NYS DOT, Oneida County Sheriff’s Office, Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente, and several members of the staff at Union Station.
A coordinated effort was put forth to keep the trains running without endangering the safety of passengers or employees.
A command post has been established, and structural engineers will evaluate the building, and many of the agencies previously mentioned will decide what steps to take next.”
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Original Story:
Emergency crews are on the scene of an accident involving a train and multiple cars near Union Station in Utica, New York.
The derailment of what is being called a “runaway train,” was operated by the New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway. There are no injuries reported. The area, however, is being scoured for any pedestrians who may have been
The derailment occurred at approximately 5:28pm on Tuesday, July 21, 2015.
Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente says that, at this point, it is too early to say whether or not the National Transportation Safety Board will be called in to investigate. At this point the investigation is being conducted by Utica Police and the Utica Fire Department.
Of concern to authorities is the structural integrity of Union Station. The train, which slammed into an antique train on static display at the site, caused the historic train to crash into Union Station.
Although the area of the one hundred-year-old structure is vacant, occupied only by an interior stairwell, its structural integrity may have been compromised. It is for this reason that a portion of Union Station has been closed indefinitely until engineers can adequately assess the potential damage and repairs can be made.