A train derailment is reported at the railroad crossing at Donahue Road, Town of Batavia.
UPDATE 2:25 p.m.: I just returned from the scene. The train jumped the tracks in the area of the wastewater plant, about a mile east of Donahue Road. No injuries, no toxic spills.
NOTE: We are out of power at both the house and now the office (power at the house went out about two hours ago), which has hampered our ability to do updates. There are trees down all over the place. I've driven past a few that I didn't even bother to get pictures of. I've got pictures coming of trees down on Morton Avenue, Central Avenue (down at the roots, hitting a house) and behind Tully's restaurant two cars were hit by a downed tree, one was heavily damaged. There was also power lines down on Route 5 near the fairgrounds and a person was reportedly trapped in a car for a time with power lines on it. We have pictures coming of all this plus this morning's on South Jackson Street fire.
ALSO, Our friends at 13WHAM tell me gusts up to 71 mph have been recorded at the Rochester Airport. Also, if you have storm damage pictures to share, send them to howard@thebatavian.com or text them to (585) 260-6970. Let me know if you want your name included with the photo and include location information.
UPDATE 3:10 p.m.: We continue to hear reports of trees down and wires down all over the county. There is a tree down, but I didn't catch the location, that has caught on fire. Also a truck hauling a trailer had the trailer flip at another location. Route 63 from the city line to Galloway Road is closed because of power lines down. A tree reportedly hit the house, according to a reader, and it may be along 63 where the fire is in the tree.
UPDATE 3:27 p.m.: There are 615 power outages for National Grid customers in Western New York, affecting nearly 100,000 customers. There is close to 100 in Genesee County affecting more than 12,000 customers.
CSX crews are en route to a CSX freight train derailment in the vicinity of Donahue Road in Batavia. Crews and other CSX personnel will work with local officials to render any necessary assistance. The train derailed at approximately 1:15 p.m. today.
The number of rail cars involved in the incident is still being determined. There are no reports of any leaks or spills of any freight from the train, and no injuries to the crew.
The train was headed from Chicago to Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The train has two locomotives and 29 loaded freight cars. The train is carrying a variety of freight including rubber gloves, dry goods, toilet paper, food products and furniture. One rail car containing black powder, which is characterized as a hazardous material, is also among the freight.
The cause of the incident is subject to investigation.
Also Route 98 in the city is being shut down, but not sure of which end. Also tree down on North Avenue near Naramore Drive, completely blocking.
UPDATE 3:51 p.m.: On Roanoke Road there's a tree down in a yard with power lines down. There's a person on location attempting to cut the tree despite the live wires and "he won't stop."
UPDATE 4:05 p.m.: One-vehicle rollover, believed with no injuries, on the Thruway overpass on Route 98.
UPDATE 4:10 p.m.: Center Street in both directions and School Street in both directions are being barricaded. National Grid has a prolonged repair in progress.
UPDATE 8 p.m.: Statement we received from Sen. Chuck Schumer's office:
“Our office is in close contact with Federal Railroad Administration and local officials in Batavia. Our thoughts are with those who were impacted by this derailment, and with the first responders currently on scene. While we don’t yet know why the CSX train derailed, Senator Schumer will work closely with FRA and other federal safety organizations to quickly get to the bottom of what caused this serious accident,” said Jason Kaplan, spokesman for Senator Schumer.
