HAMLET — Two CSX trains made contact Saturday morning near Louis Breeden Boulevard, causing the derailment of 18 railcars and one locomotive, according to city officials.
The incident occurred at approximately 10:29 a.m. on March 14. Emergency crews responded to the scene and secured the area while CSX personnel began coordinating response and recovery operations.
“The Hamlet Fire Department and Hamlet Police Department responded immediately and secured the area to ensure the safety of the public,” said Hamlet City Manager, John Terziu in a statement. “CSX personnel arrived shortly thereafter and assumed incident command, coordinating the ongoing response and recovery efforts.”
After the area was stabilized, city leaders and CSX representatives assessed conditions at the site and began coordinating cleanup efforts and the restoration of rail operations.
Terziu continued, “Once the site was secured, I arrived on scene to assess the situation with CSX representatives. Since that time, I have been working closely with CSX leadership to ensure the impacted area is safely cleaned and restored to normal operations as quickly as possible.”
Officials said no injuries were reported as a result of the incident, and the cause of the derailment remains under investigation.
Authorities also confirmed that a small amount of diesel fuel was released from the derailed locomotive but was quickly contained by response crews.
“The derailed locomotive released a minimal quantity of diesel fuel, which was quickly contained by response crews,” Terziu said. “CSX teams remain on site and are continuing cleanup and recovery operations while prioritizing the safety of both workers and the surrounding community.”
As cleanup and recovery efforts continued, Terziu expressed appreciation for the coordinated work of local agencies and supporting emergency services.
“I want to personally thank the Hamlet Fire Department, Hamlet Police Department, CSX personnel, and all supporting emergency services for their professionalism, rapid response, and coordinated efforts during this high-stress situation. What we witnessed, and continue to see, is true teamwork and the ability of our responders to manage emergency situations confidently and effectively,” said Terziu.
Terziu also recognized the support and communication from state leadership throughout the weekend.
“I would also like to thank Representative Ben Moss for his continued support and communication throughout the weekend as we worked through this incident and ensured the appropriate resources and coordination were in place,” Terziu said.
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