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Schools dismissed early
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7 Indianapolis-area schools evacuated after jet fuel spill at CSX yard

(The following story by Josh Duke and Gretchen Becker appeared on the Indianapolis Star website on August 29.)

AVON, Ind. With seven buildings within a half-mile of the CSX rail yards, Avon Schools officials knew their emergency evacuation plans might someday be put to the test.

That day came Thursday, when a tanker truck toppled near the tracks on Ind. 267, spilling jet fuel and forcing the evacuation of about 4,700 students.

"Last spring, we practiced how we would evacuate 8,000 students," said Margaret Hoernemann, associate superintendent of Avon Schools. "There was no need to stop and question anything. We got through it with a minimum of chaos."

The Commercial Transport truck driven by William Garrison, 58, Indianapolis, tipped over about 7:30 a.m. just north of the tracks on Ind. 267.

Garrison was trying to turn around because a train was blocking the road, said Rita Reith, public information officer for the Indianapolis Fire Department. When Garrison tried to turn around, the tanker's wheels fell into a ditch and it rolled onto its side.

Indiana State Police cited Garrison for unsafe lane movement. He suffered minor injuries.

Avon Police Chief Jack Miller said Garrison had been with the company since April and had more than five years of driving experience.

Officials for Commercial Transport, based in Belleville, Ill., couldn't be reached for comment.

Reith said the truck contained 8,000 gallons of jet fuel. About 50 gallons leaked out before it was stopped, she said.

Several departments in Hendricks and Marion counties and from the state responded to the spill.

Ind. 267 was closed about seven hours as emergency crews from Avon and neighboring communities worked to empty the tanker and remove it from the site.

The spill posed no threat to local sewers or the water supply, said Indiana Department of Environmental Management spokeswoman Amber Finkelstein. Commercial Transport will be responsible for the cleanup.

As a precaution, local authorities ordered the evacuation of seven schools -- Avon Middle School, Avon Intermediate Schools West and East, and Cedar, Hickory, Maple and White Oak elementaries -- about an hour after the accident. The administration center also was closed.

Busloads of children were taken to other Avon schools and to Kingsway Christian Church for the rest of the day. Cafeteria, nursing and medical staffs were moved with the students and teachers.

All displaced students and staff members were expected to return to their regular schools for classes today.

In addition to the school closings, about 10 local homes and businesses were evacuated.

Avon town and school officials have long worried about potential hazards from the CSX rail yards, which stretch from Raceway Road to Ind. 267 just south of U.S. 36. The crossing at Ind. 267 often results in long backups when trains pass though. The Indiana Department of Transportation has a long-term plan to build an overpass there, but that project is on hold.

"The overpass isn't going to limit the risk that can happen, but it would be a major convenience for motorists," Chief Miller said.

Friday, August 29, 2008



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