Freight Train Derails in North Bergen, New Jersey

Hazmat teams respond to spill of ethyl acetate from derailed cars

Apr. 14, 2026 at 8:35pm

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A sweeping, atmospheric landscape painting in muted tones, with a partially obscured freight train derailment in the distance, dwarfed by the overwhelming scale of the natural environment.A freight train derailment in North Bergen, New Jersey, exposes the fragility of infrastructure in the face of nature's might.Jersey City Today

Emergency responders rushed to the scene of a freight train derailment in North Bergen, New Jersey on Tuesday afternoon. The incident involved a spill from one of the train cars, with the substance identified as ethyl acetate. Hazmat teams are working to safely mitigate the situation by diluting the spill with water. No injuries have been reported so far, and officials say there is no confirmed danger to the public.

Why it matters

Train derailments can pose significant risks to public safety, especially when hazardous materials are involved. This incident highlights the importance of rapid emergency response and effective hazardous materials management protocols to protect local communities.

The details

The freight train derailment occurred just before 4 p.m. on Tuesday along Tonnelle Avenue near Route 3 in North Bergen. Emergency responders from North Bergen Police and Fire, as well as Jersey City Hazmat, are on the scene working to contain the spill. The substance has been identified as ethyl acetate, and the Hazmat teams are diluting it with large amounts of water to safely mitigate the situation.

  • The freight train derailment occurred just before 4 p.m. on Tuesday, April 14, 2026.

The players

North Bergen Police

The local police department responding to the freight train derailment incident.

North Bergen Fire Department

The local fire department responding to the freight train derailment incident.

Jersey City Hazmat

The hazardous materials response team from the neighboring city of Jersey City assisting with the incident.

Nick Sacco

The Mayor of North Bergen providing updates on the incident response.

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What they’re saying

“The substance has been identified as ethyl acetate, and our Hazmat teams are currently working to safely mitigate the situation by diluting it with large amounts of water.”

— Nick Sacco, Mayor of North Bergen

What’s next

Officials will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as the Hazmat teams work to fully contain the ethyl acetate spill. Route 3 will remain closed in both directions near Tonnelle Avenue until the incident is resolved.

The takeaway

This freight train derailment underscores the importance of robust emergency response protocols and hazardous materials management plans to protect public safety in the event of transportation accidents involving dangerous substances. The swift action of local authorities and Hazmat teams helped to mitigate the potential risks in this incident.