EAST PALESTINE (AP) — UPDATE 2/23/23 11:42 a.m.: Federal safety investigators have released a preliminary report on the East Palestine train derailment and toxic chemical release.
RELATED: Where does the contaminated soil and water from the crash site go?
The National Transportation Safety Board says the train’s crew did not receive a critical warning about an overheated axle until just before dozens of cars went off the tracks.
The engineer slowed and stopped the train after getting a “critical audible alarm message.”
The crew then saw fire and smoke and alerted dispatch of a possible derailment.
The report’s release Thursday came as Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg made his first visit to East Palestine since the wreck nearly three weeks ago.
The Feb. 3 derailment led to evacuations and fears of contamination after a controlled burn of toxic chemicals aimed at preventing an explosion.
8:32 a.m.: Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is in East Palestine to tour the site where a train wrecked nearly three weeks ago as the government faces growing criticism over the federal response to the derailment.
The Feb. 3 derailment led to evacuations and fears of air and water contamination after a controlled burn of toxic chemicals aimed at preventing an explosion.
The Biden White House has defended its response to the derailment, saying officials from the Environmental Protection Agency, National Transportation Safety Board and other agencies were at the rural site within hours of the derailment.
The NTSB was expected to release a preliminary report later Thursday on the derailment.
4:14 a.m.: Trump criticizes federal response to train derailment
Donald Trump is criticizing the federal response to the toxic train derailment in East Palestine as a betrayal.
The former president and now presidential candidate visited the village on Wednesday.
He told residents that the community needs “answers and results,” not excuses.
“In too many cases, your goodness and perseverance were met with indifference and betrayal,” Trump said at a firehouse roughly half a mile from where more than three dozen freight cars — including 11 carrying hazardous materials — came off the tracks. The fiery, mangled mess near the Pennsylvania state line apparently followed a mechanical issue with a rail car axle.
Trump appeared with U.S. Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, Mayor Trent Conaway and state and local leaders — and traveled via motorcade — giving the visit the look of an official presidential visit.
The Feb. 3 derailment led to evacuations and fears of air and water contamination after a controlled burning of toxic chemicals aimed at preventing an explosion. The disaster has become the latest front in America’s political divide, with Trump criticizing the federal response and the White House in turn saying Trump could have done more as president to toughen rail and environmental regulations.
The Biden White House says Trump himself could have done more as president to toughen regulations and prevent such disasters.
State expands services at health clinic
The Ohio Department of Health on Wednesday announced that it has expanded the services offered at its health assessment clinic in East Palestine to assist those impacted by the derailment.
Beginning Thursday, visitors to the free clinic will have vital signs taken and will receive a medical examination be seen by a physician.
“We have been working to bring additional medical resources to the community as quickly as possible. I am pleased we now can offer people a more complete medical evaluation,” director Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff said.
The clinic, operated at the First Church of Christ on W. Martin Street in East Palestine in partnership with the Columbiana County Health Department and with support from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, opened on Tuesday and will remain open at least through March 4.
Physicians from East Liverpool City Hospital have joined the effort along with mental health specialists and a toxicologist who are available for consultation.
The numbers to make appointments are 234-564-7755 or 234-564-7888.
Also, a new poison-control hotline has been established, exclusively for use by residents in the East Palestine area. That number is 1-877-603-0170.
The clinic