CASSELTON, N.D. (AP) - Federal investigators have released hundreds of pages detailing the fiery 2013 oil train derailment near Casselton, North Dakota, that forced 1,400 to evacuate for several days.
Interviews with the BNSF workers operating the two trains in the derailment are included in what the National Transportation Safety Board posted online Monday.
The two men onboard the BNSF oil train describe losing sight of the tracks in a cloud of blowing snow shortly before seeing a derailed grain car lying across the tracks. Emergency brakes were applied, but the train was still moving faster than 40 mph when it collided.
Everyone aboard both trains escaped unharmed. But just a couple minutes after conductor Pete Rigpl exited the oil train he looked back to see flames engulf the locomotive he had been in.