RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Gov. Terry McAuliffe is creating a new rail safety task force in the wake of a train derailment in Lynchburg.
McAuliffe surveyed the site of the derailment Friday and announced the formation of the new task force. He says Virginia needs to be a national leader in preventing and preparing for train derailments.
Federal investigators are trying to determine what caused the 17-car derailment of a CSX train carrying Bakken crude from North Dakota.
Three of the cars plunged into the James River and one caught fire, briefly causing parts of downtown Lynchburg to be evacuated.
The Department of Transportation issued an emergency order Wednesday requiring that railroads inform state officials about the movement of large shipments of crude oil through their states.
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