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Tanker crashes on to railway line Tanker crashes on to railway line
(20 minutes later)
A gas tanker has crashed over a bridge and plunged 50ft on to a railway near a market town in County Durham.A gas tanker has crashed over a bridge and plunged 50ft on to a railway near a market town in County Durham.
An exclusion zone has been set up and the driver was airlifted to hospital after the crash at the Weardale Railway just outside Wolsingham.An exclusion zone has been set up and the driver was airlifted to hospital after the crash at the Weardale Railway just outside Wolsingham.
Potentially flammable gas is reported to be leaking from the tanker and a 100m cordon is in place. A few homes and a caravan park were evacuated.Potentially flammable gas is reported to be leaking from the tanker and a 100m cordon is in place. A few homes and a caravan park were evacuated.
The driver was thrown from the tanker - the extent of his injuries is unclear.The driver was thrown from the tanker - the extent of his injuries is unclear.
Police and fire crews are at the scene and the A689 has been closed.Police and fire crews are at the scene and the A689 has been closed.
Driver thrownDriver thrown
Chris Hockaday, from the County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service, said: "It's gone through a wall and dropped about fifty feet on to the Weardale railway track.Chris Hockaday, from the County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service, said: "It's gone through a wall and dropped about fifty feet on to the Weardale railway track.
"One male occupant, who was the driver, was thrown from the vehicle and has since been recovered by fire service personnel, who wore breathing apparatus just in case there was a gas leak.""One male occupant, who was the driver, was thrown from the vehicle and has since been recovered by fire service personnel, who wore breathing apparatus just in case there was a gas leak."
He said the man was flown by air ambulance and emergency teams were waiting for Calor to send another tanker to drain the one that has crashed.He said the man was flown by air ambulance and emergency teams were waiting for Calor to send another tanker to drain the one that has crashed.
A welder's van exploded in the town in MayA welder's van exploded in the town in May
"We've also involved the Environment Agency just in case there's any diesel left in the tanker that could possibly get into the water courses, the nearby river.""We've also involved the Environment Agency just in case there's any diesel left in the tanker that could possibly get into the water courses, the nearby river."
Local resident Bill Hobson said: "We first became aware of the situation because we are close to the scene and were asked to stay on site rather than leave the area. The Weardale Railway runs steam trains on a five-mile stretch of restored track between Stanhope and Wolsingham Station, which is close to the scene.
Local resident Bill Hobson said: "We first became aware of the situation because we are close by and were asked to stay on site rather than leave the area.
"We are feeling quite safe and confident about the way the police are handling the situation, so we are keeping out of the way."We are feeling quite safe and confident about the way the police are handling the situation, so we are keeping out of the way.
"They haven't let us know when things will return to normal.""They haven't let us know when things will return to normal."
He added that while there were steep hills in the area it was not noted as a danger spot.He added that while there were steep hills in the area it was not noted as a danger spot.
In May, a van containing gas cylinders exploded in the town's market place, killing the driver and causing widespread damage to both residential and commercial properties.In May, a van containing gas cylinders exploded in the town's market place, killing the driver and causing widespread damage to both residential and commercial properties.


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