Indianapolis-The criminal investigation is continuing two months after 70 top-loading hopper cars filled with potash fertilizer were released from a unused railroad spur leading to a inactive coal mine in Sullivan County, derailing 22 of the cars (GM July 13) and causing Indiana Rail Road a $1 million cleanup. At last word, Indiana state police were heading up a multi-agency effort but had brought no charges, and were said to still be looking into the probability of someone tampering with or vandalizing the equipment July 7. ISP Sgt. Joe Watts confirmed for Green Markets that the investigation is ongoing. “However, no new leads have developed. There still have been no arrests made or anticipated at this time,” Watts reported. Railway spokesman Chris Rund reported that potash that was spilled from 22 derailed cars mixed with water at the crash scene, and an estimated 1 million gallons had to be pumped into tanker trucks to be hauled away for disposal. Rund said there were concerns at the time about salinity getting into fresh water sources. “Our early investigation was that there is a strong possibility of equipment tampering and we are treating it as a criminal investigation,” Rund added. The Indiana RR has posted a $20,000 reward for the arrest and conviction of anyone who is responsible for tampering with rail cars.
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