WALLULA, Wash. – Hundreds of gallons of diesel fuel leaked into the Columbia River after an early morning derailment south of Wallula on Nov. 6.
Six Union Pacific railcars carrying frozen french fries derailed around 3:30 a.m., according to the railroad, causing about 650 gallons of diesel fuel that was used to run the cars’ generators being released into the river.
The spill was quickly contained to the eastern bank of the river with a boom and crews responded to the area.
Cleanup operations are ongoing and emergency response authorities were notified of the spill.
The official cause of the derailment and spill is now under investigation, according to Union Pacific.
