Photo: Fort Bend County Fire Marshal's Office
Response operations continue following the Union Pacific train derailment involving 23 railcars along Highway 90 near OakBend Medical Center, impacting the cities of Richmond and Rosenberg.
There have been no reported injuries, and there is no current threat to public safety.
Hazardous Materials Update
Response crews have identified five railcars with ethanol leaks. At this time:
- Two of the five leaking railcars have been successfully contained
- Mitigation efforts are actively underway on the remaining three railcars
In addition, one railcar containing non-hazardous corn syrup is also leaking. This material does not pose a danger to the public.
Operations Update
- Crews are conducting controlled offloading of chemicals
- The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is enroute and will lead the investigation into the cause of the derailment
Safety & Environmental Status
- No impacts to nearby waterways have been identified
- Air monitoring continues as a precaution
Traffic & Access
- All railroad crossings are open except Collins Road, which remains closed and will stay closed for the duration of response operations
- Residents are encouraged to avoid the immediate area and use caution due to ongoing emergency activity
This remains a coordinated, multi-agency response involving local, county, state, federal, and private partners. Additional specialized resources from across Texas are supporting mitigation and recovery efforts.
Following completion of chemical offloading and the NTSB investigation, the site will be transitioned to Union Pacific for cleanup operations and rail repairs, which are expected to take several days.
Fort Bend County will continue to provide updates as new information becomes available. Residents are encouraged to follow official Fort Bend County, City of Richmond, and partner agency channels for accurate and timely information.