3 nearby residents found dead, 22 injured by fumesBy JOHN W. GONZALEZ
Copyright 2004 Houston Chronicle San Antonio Bureau
SAN ANTONIO -- The collision of two freight trains killed one of the trains' engineers and released toxic gases that may have killed at least twonearby residents and injured 22 other people -- some of them miles from the accident scene, officials said Monday. 
The 5 a.m. crash involving trains from Union Pacific and Burlington Northern-Santa Fe left a massive tangle of wreckage in southwest Bexar County, near the rural community of Macdona. Forty railcars, including four locomotives and several tankers, derailed on the UP-owned track.
Chlorine gas escaped from one of the cars, but winds steered some of the bleach-like fumes away from populated areas. Still, drifting gas temporarily forced road closures, kept residents indoors and hampered operations at a nearby state jail and at SeaWorld, 10 miles from the accident.
Identities of the fatalities and their causes of death were not immediately disclosed. The UP engineer was found near the wreckage. Two people later were found dead in a nearby home when rescuers made a door-to-door search. Officials were awaiting toxicology reports to establish whether they succumbed to fumes.
Officials are investigating whether another nearby resident also died.
The eastbound Burlington Northern train was shifting onto a siding when it was struck by the westbound Union Pacific train, which apparently did not receive routine warnings about the approaching train, officials said.
"The Union Pacific train should have received a slowdown signal and then a stop signal, which would have stopped it short of the switch where it struck the other train," said UP spokesman John Bromley. "The focus of the investigation will be why that didn't occur."
National Transportation Safety Board investigators were on the scene by midday to examine the wreckage and determine the accident's cause. Officials from the two rail lines were among those kept away from the impact area while dangerous conditions persisted even 12 hours later, as 32 fire and emergency vehicles remained at the scene.
"Fire and police secured the area, so we have not been able to get close yet," BNSF spokesman Joe Faust said. "A hazardous material team is on the scene and the area has been quarantined to everyone at this point."
At least 22 people were treated at nearby Wilford Hall Medical Center at Lackland AFB. Five patients were admitted, two of them in critical condition. Among those treated and released was a sheriff's deputy who was first at the scene.
Those injured, some of whom sought treatment several hours after the accident, complained of respiratory problems and burning eyes, a medical center spokesman said. They ranged in age from 5 to 83.
10:13:57 AM 
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