A locomotive hauling crude oil in North Dakota collided with a grain car near an ethanol plant on Monday afternoon. The combination of ethanol and crude oil makes for a dangerous surrounding area, and the town of Casselton had to be evacuated as a result. Emergency workers say that they believe that the black clouds of smoke may carry toxic fumes into the town of Casselton. As a precaution, they are evacuating the town.

Authorities are urging residents to evacuate the town of eastern North Dakota which has about 2,400 residents. The Cass County Sheriff's Office reports that the weather forecasted a wind shift which will blow all of the fumes towards the town. Town residents are encouraged to travel to Fargo, a town about 25 miles away. A middle school in the area has set up a shelter for residents where they can remain until the fire has been put out.

The train crash occurred at 2:10 p.m. when a mile-long oil train smashed into a grain car. As many as one-dozen rail cars flew from the tracks and the crash set off a series of explosions. Some of the train cars caught fire, burning through the crude oil. The fires raged near the ethanol plant. The EPA is performing testing at the ethanol plant to determine if toxic chemicals have been released. EPA agents explain that the chemicals released may just be carbon, which would mean that the town of Casselton is safe.

Already, half of the forces that came to the scene of the accident to fight the fire have returned home. The fire is not as hot as it was at the initial crash, and further explosions are not expected. No injuries have been reported in connection with the crash, and the BNSF freight railroad network is comprised of nearly 400 different railroad lines that have merged over the course of 160 years. The National Transportation Safety Board will probably dispatch agents to come and inspect the accident and determine why the two trains collided with each other.

The railroad personnel may be held responsible for this accident, as adequate monitoring may have helped to eliminate the possibility of a crash. Also, a negligent railroad engineer may be responsible for falling off track or taking the wrong rail due to negligence or carelessness. If the toxic fumes invade Casselton, then residents in the town may have the right to sue for the dangers that they have been put through.

Ethanol is a is a volatile and flammable liquid that is used as a psychoactive drug. It is also used as a recreational drug. It can cause alcohol intoxication when consumed, and is typically found in alcoholic beverages. The same chemical is also used in thermometers, as a solvent, and as fuel. The highly flammable chemical could have created a devastating explosion if it had made contact with the blaze from the train accident.

While no injuries have been reported in this situation yet, the accident had the potential to cause severe injuries and accidents. Recently, a train accident in New York killed four people and injured an additional 68. As well, plant explosions kill and injure workers throughout the United States each and every year. If you have been injured in a plant explosion, train accident, or chemical exposure situation, don't hesitate to call an attorney right away to get the information that you need. With the right lawyer there to help you, you may be able to file a legitimate lawsuit and seek compensation for your injuries! Call a local personal injury firm on the blog today!