SAN ANTONIO -- A Union Pacific train engineer died Monday after a freight train collision that resulted in a chlorine and an anhydrous ammonium gas leak southwest of San Antonio.
The engineer's name was not immediately released and it was not known how he died.
The bodies of two couple who lived in a home were found near the train crash site, although officials would not say whether their deaths were related to the accident.
At least 15 people were injured, including two listed in critical condition at Wilford Hall Medical Center. One of the critically injured victims is a Union Pacific Train employee, KSAT 12 News reported.
Six employees from SeaWorld of San Antonio were transported after complaining of headache, dizziness and nausea. A Bexar County sheriff's deputy was treated and released.
The collision occurred at 5 a.m. near Loop 1604 and Nelson Road in southwest Bexar County after a Burlington Northern Santa Fe train was pulling into what's called a siding, waiting for a Union Pacific train to pass, when it was struck on the side by the Union Pacific train, said Joe Faust, a spokesman for Burlington Northern Santa Fe.
Union Pacific spokesman John Bromley said 23 of the 74 UP cars derailed, including four locomotives. There were 17 BN cars that derailed, none of them locomotives. Four rail cars were damaged, said San Antonio Fire Department District Chief Randy Jenkins. Two rail cars were ruptured and two were leaking, Jenkins said.
Jenkins said hazmat crews took readings downwind from the accident site and said readings showed "very, very minute readings" of gas. He also said the situation was "de-escalating."
Jenkins added that residents in the area should seal off their homes as best as they can.
"Close their windows and doors and shut off their air conditioning systems," Jenkins said.
No mandatory evacuations were ordered but people are asked to leave their homes if they smell the chemicals, which are not considered to be deadly, but can cause shortness of breath.
SeaWorld officials delayed opening of the park until noon. The animals at the theme park appeared to be fine.
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