TEMPE, Ariz. — Union Pacific has agreed to pay almost a half-million dollars to settle a lawsuit by the city of Tempe over a July 2020 derailment which led to a bridge fire and hazardous-material spill.
KSAZ-TV reports the money is to reimburse the city for costs incurred in the July 29, 2020, incident, in which seven cars of a train derailed on a bridge over Tempe Town Lake [see “No estimate for repair of UP bridge …,” Trains News Wire, July 30, 2020]. Part of the nine-span bridge, built in 1912, collapsed, and one of the cars leaked the chemical cyclohexane. A train crew member was treated for smoke inhalation and a firefighter was treated for dehydration.
KPNX-TV reports UP will pay $481,715, and that the money will cover city costs for replacement of damaged city property, response costs, traffic control, environmental testing, and other expenses.
More than 100 firefighters responded to the incident, which halted light-rail service through the area for about a day. UP spent about $11 million to repair the bridge, which was closed for almost two weeks.
— Updated at 10:40 a.m. on Feb. 12 with additional details.
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