NTSB LAUNCHING TEAM TO INVESTIGATE FREIGHT TRAIN COLLISION NEAR SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS

National Transportation Safety Board Chairman, Ellen Engleman Conners, announced that the Safety Board will launch a team to investigate a rail collision that occurred around 5:15 CDT this morning. The collision, involving a Union Pacific (UP) freight train and a Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) freight train, occurred about 14 miles west of San Antonio, Texas.

Jim Remines, Investigator-In-Charge, will lead the nine-member team, which will include experts in the areas of railroad operations, track, survival factors, mechanical factors, human performance, signals, and hazardous materials.

The team is expected to arrive at the accident site later today. Updated information on the progress of the investigation will be released periodically.

NTSB Media Contact: Lauren Peduzzi, (202) 314-6100