Ethanol spills in Pasco rail yard accident

PASCO, Wash. (AP) — Two trains have collided in a switching yard accident at Pasco, and a derailed tanker car is leaking ethanol.

Burlington Northern Santa Fe spokesman Gus Melonas says about three dozen fire department hazmat crews and other emergency responders are on the scene. They have evacuated the area.

Melonas says there is no fire, no threat to residential areas or sign of significant environmental damage.

Three crewmen on a locomotive escaped unharmed before the crash about 3:40 a.m. Monday. The accident was first reported by KONA.

Melonas says the accident was caused when a coupler broke and a string of about 50 cars rolled into an idling train.

Two locomotives and more than a dozen cars derailed, including ones carrying calcium chloride and corn syrup. Only the ethanol is leaking.