Dashcam Footage of Train Derailing and Explosion on I-40 in New Mexico/Arizona

My mother and father in-law, Ed & Kathy Rasich were traveling when they caught this terrifying footage on their dashcam the moment the train derailed and an explosion followed. The fire burned the awning off of their camper. Scary!!
For the second clip I tried to upscale the footage and zoom in a little bit more.

[michaeldeloatch]

I am glad your father in law remembered that active explosions and expanding balls of fire have the right of way on highways and yielded his lane accordingly

[basilfoster]

I work with the Engineer's brother. He knew the train was on the ground, but hadn't even gotten the front end stopped before the explosion happened.

[sykotikOG]

If you watch to the lower-left on the zoomed in footage, you can see that the cars from behind are still piling into the derailment area, which is what appears to set off the explosion.

[jadechase]

I drove from Arizona to New Mexico today and saw the aftermath. It was insane. So close to the highway. Several tanker cars were still there burnt to a crisp. So thankful your okay!

[ashleydaniel]

Harry Collins this is the best footage out there of the derailment, consider linking it to the McKinley co fire dept, I would guess the NTSB would find this footage helpful. Hats off to you for your bravery and glad you’re ok.

[jasenhicks]

I love the "Wow, giant fireball, Imma change lanes!" I'd have done the same thing. Crazy. I've ridden my motorcycle past a burning truck before and holy hell it was hot, can't imagine being on a motorcycle next to this.

[theMick]

Dude just casually pulls into the other lane when the explosion occurred... Like a boss!

[IanCthrwd]

Nevermind the sound…cant imagine the heat from that…….mushroom cloud.

[RickyJr]

I think the driver did a marvelous job of missing the end of that guardrail. Great situational awareness!

[jaynecobb]

I got a first degree burns from just watching this! That was an intense fireball.

[katieandkevinsears]

I just had flashbacks of East Palestine. I'm an engineer through that route and my train was the one ahead of the one that blew up there.

[RBlnd]

The glow from the light of the explosion was so surreal. It lasted far longer than I expected. It was kind of stunning to see it lighting up everything like that.

[jacktaggart]

Incredible footage! Thanks for posting. I hope your folks are OK; must have been very traumatic after effects for them.

[CharlieKrampitz]

Damn that scared the crap out of you. That derailment just happened and the dust hadn't even settled and those tanks blew. That's a trainman's worst nightmare.

[scottdaniels]

my man passing the giant fireball on the left and then getting back over

[jeremyquiros]

Driving by as the explosion occurs is theme park ride levels of perfect timing. That is scary, but I’m glad your in-laws are okay.

[alwhalen]

The first cloud surrounding the derailment looks to be dust. The more pronounced cloud that starts forming as they pass is LP Gas escaping from a ruptured tank car. When that cloud expanded it managed to find an ignition source (either sparks or hot metal pieces from the friction of the derailment) That would be the instant ignition of the LPG. The railcars hold 30, 000 gals of LPG. Not likely all of it had escaped from the car in that very brief period, but it was a significant amount.

[MrMark]

Think about this the train was going underneath interstate 40 at that time and didn’t derail until just after coming out from underneath the train bridge. Can you only imagine what it would’ve done to the bridge if the train blew up underneath it

[JeanBrewer]

My goodness, Harry! I could feel the heat! The camera is a good one. Thank you for sharing.

[Derpnr]

That would of been a serious brown pants moment
to be that close to the explosion. Glad to hear nobody was injured. Dash cams catch the craziest shit sometimes.