WREX.com – Rockford’s News LeaderRockford train derailment latest: one woman dead

Rockford train derailment latest: one woman dead

ROCKFORD (WREX) - A thick cloud of smoke poured over southeast Rockford after a train derailed, killing one woman, near South Mulford and Sandy Hollow Roads.

41-year-old Zoila Tellez of Rockford died while trying to escape from her car, which was stopped south of the train crossing. Tellez made it about 20 feet from her car, when she fell and died. Autopsy results say she died from thermal injuries. The explosion injured nine others near the crossing. We're told two of those burn victims went to OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center in Rockford and one to Stroger in Chicago. There were two people on the train, but both are okay.

The derailment happened around 8:30 Friday night.  26 area fire departments were on the scene.  Rockton's fire chief tells 13 News the Canadian National train had 114 cars and 74 were filled with ethanol.  14 of those cars caught fire, burning ethanol and sending thick smoke across the area.

Canadian National Railway Company spokesman Patrick Waldron says 18 cars, all containing highly flammable ethanol, derailed.

Firefighters let the ethanol burn out completely, which didn't happen until Saturday afternoon.  

Investigators are working with Canadian National to move the train cars that were not involved away from the scene. There's crews bringing in truckloads of gravel to build a road so machinery can get to some of the derailed cars. 

Part of Mulford Road between Harrison Avenue and Sandy Hollow Road will most likely stay blocked until Monday as crews investigate the scene. Waldron says Canadian National has heard news media reports the derailment was caused by a washout of the tracks, but that's "not a certainty."

The mandatory evacuation for the area around the scene has been lifted. Saturday afternoon emergency teams said it was safe for all people who evacuated their homes to return.

Stay tuned to 13 News or check back at wrex.com for new information.