Residents’ reaction to the White County train accident that led to highway closure and evacuation

WHITE COUNTY, Arkansas – White County residents expressed concern after a train crash Monday prompted an evacuation and a several-hour closure of Highway 367.

Arkansas Department of Transportation officials said nitric acid leaked at the scene.

Nitric acid is highly corrosive. Contact with the liquid can cause eye and skin irritation and can also cause serious health problems, according to the CDC.

Union Pacific officials said the leak was contained around 12:30 p.m. Officials with the White County Sheriff’s Office said Highway 367 reopened and the evacuation was lifted after 3:30 p.m.

Crystal Kimberly, who works at a local gas station, said many people who work and live near the area being evacuated came into the store and were scared.

“A lot of people have come because they don’t know where to go. They have no place to go,” Kimberly said.

Michael Perez, who lives across the street from the railroad tracks, said he was worried about his family and himself.

“I was a little nervous and stayed inside just in case something happened,” Perez said. “I can’t really do anything about it right now, but I just hope something like that doesn’t happen again.”

Later Monday evening, officials said the train was running again and the leaking car had been removed from the tracks.

Union Pacific officials said air monitoring near the site, as well as in Beebe and McRae, shows normal conditions.

Union Pacific said the cause of the leak is still under investigation.