Damage caused by the July 11 train derailment and explosion at Fields and 5th avenues is expected to be about $1.2 million, according to Wednesday night’s preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board.
The NTSB continues to investigate the 2 a.m. accident that derailed 17 cars of the Norfolk Southern train headed southbound to Linwood, N.C. NTSB spokesman Eric Weiss said it might take up to a year for officials to determine the cause of the accident, according to The Associated Press.
The three cars containing ethanol burned for more than 15 hours after the accident. HAZMAT officials were called in to decontaminate the area, and Columbus Division of Police advised residents within a half-mile radius of the derailment site to evacuate. Two people sustained minor injuries.
Ohio State students received an initial text alert about the fire at 3:45 a.m. and another alert five hours later warning people to avoid the area.
