Freight Train Carrying Flammable Fuel Derails in Mansfield, Eastern Connecticut

Emergency services were called to a freight train derailment in Mansfield on Thursday morning after multiple cars left the tracks and several ended up in a nearby river. The incident was reported at 9:22 a.m., prompting a coordinated response from state and local authorities.

Connecticut State Police confirmed that no injuries had been reported in the immediate aftermath. Responders included state police officers, the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection’s Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security, and the state Department of Transportation.

The state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection said a total of 14 train cars derailed, with five of them coming to rest in the river. The agency confirmed the cars were transporting flammable fuel, raising environmental and safety concerns as crews assessed the situation.

As a result of the derailment, Route 32, also known as Stafford Road, has been shut between Route 44 and Route 275. The town of Mansfield warned residents that the closure is expected to remain in place for an extended period while recovery and investigation work continues.

Image: WFSB