The Colorado Public Utilities Commission’s Office of Rail Safety has released details about a train derailment that occurred late Tuesday near Whitewater, Colorado, outside Grand Junction. According to the agency, a Union Pacific Railroad locomotive derailed into the Gunnison River at 10:53 p.m. on December 2.
Two crew members were transported to a hospital following the incident and have since been released. Preliminary information indicates that rockfall along the rail corridor may have caused the derailment. The Union Pacific Railroad Hazmat Manager and environmental contractors are currently working at the site.
State and local agencies responded to address the situation. The Grand Junction Fire Department deployed booms in an effort to contain approximately 4,460 gallons of diesel fuel that entered the river. Biologists from Colorado Parks and Wildlife have been present since early Wednesday morning to assess potential impacts on fish and wildlife.
To support recovery efforts, the Colorado Department of Transportation issued emergency permits for Union Pacific to bring heavy equipment needed for extracting rail cars and managing hazardous materials cleanup. While secondary roads in the area may be temporarily closed for these operations, there are no expected impacts on Interstate 70.
Union Pacific reported the derailment to the Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management’s watch center as required by House Bill 24-1030. The DHSEM West Area Field Manager was also notified and provided technical support to Mesa County emergency management officials. This legislation established the Office of Rail Safety within the Public Utilities Commission with a mandate to increase transparency, accountability, and safety in rail operations across Colorado.
