Deadly and costly train derailments over the years in Shawnee County
TOPEKA (KSNT) - Since 1975, Shawnee County has seen 172 train derailments including two deadly incidents, one in 2010 and one in 2023.
Working for you, 27 News looked at data from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) for train derailments in Shawnee County. Since 1975, train derailments in the county have resulted in more than $13.5 million in damage.
The costliest derailment happened in 2011 and resulted in nearly $2 million in damage when a 142-car Union Pacific train crash caused a total of 33 cars to be derailed. DOT attributed the derailment to a broken rail.
More recently, on July 18, 2023, Carl Myles, 67, of Topeka was leaving Bettis Asphalt Concrete Supply of Topeka’s parking lot. He entered the railroad tracks and was struck by an oncoming train. A Union Pacific spokeswoman said the impact ruptured a nearby gas line and the truck was engulfed in flames. The driver of the cement truck died while the train crew was not injured.
This year on Jan. 22, a 15-car Union Pacific derailment in Topeka resulted in $562,052 in damage. Teams assigned to investigating the derailment found a condemnable wheel that they agreed was the cause of the derailment, according to U.S. DOT data. Nobody was injured in the incident.
On Aug. 11, 2010, a man died after being struck by a Union Pacific train that was traveling east. According to U.S. DOT data, the man was driving a dump truck and was struck after failing to stop at a private crossing. The crash resulted in $50,000 in damage to equipment.
The busiest year on record was 1977 when Shawnee County saw 15 train derailment incidents. That year, train derailments resulted in $65,990 in equipment damage and $64,586 in track damage. The total damage in 2024 dollars would be worth $680,167 today, according to in2013dollars.com.
Since the start of reporting in 1975, these railroads have had the following number of train derailment incidents, according to the DOT:
- Union Pacific - 90
- Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad - 22
- St. Louis Southwestern Railway - 19
- Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway - 18
- Burlington Northern Santa Fe - 16
- Missouri Pacific Railroad - 3
- Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas Railroad - 2
- Amtrak - 1
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