Train Carrying Ethanol Derails, Sets Off Blaze
ROCKFORD, IL --- A number of cars from a Canadian National Railway Co. train smoldered here over the weekend, as federal investigators continued to probe whether standing water from heavy rains factored into a Friday night derailment that left one woman dead and three others injured, the Chicago Tribune reported.
ROCKFORD, IL --- A number of cars from a Canadian National Railway Co. train smoldered here over the weekend, as federal investigators continued to probe whether standing water from heavy rains factored into a Friday night derailment that left one woman dead and three others injured, the Chicago Tribune reported.
Zoila Tellez of Rockford died trying to flee her car, which was stopped at a railroad crossing when the train carrying ethanol derailed. Three passengers got out and ran, but Tellez collapsed 20 feet behind her vehicle and died, Winnebago County Coroner Sue Fiduccia told the Tribune.
"When everything went to hell and debris started flying and everything, she got out of her car and started to run away from it and that's when she got caught in the fire," said Fiduccia.
A 17-year-old female passenger was in critical condition in the Stroger Hospital burn unit after being flown by helicopter Saturday. Another remained in a Rockford hospital.
The train was en route to Sewaren, N.J., when 18 cars derailed about 9 p.m. on Friday, June 19, and set off the deadly fire. According to the Oil Price Information Service, 78 of the train's 114 cars were filled with ethanol. The fuel originated from a former VeraSun plant in Fort Dodge, Iowa. The plant is now owned by Valero.
National Transportation Safety Board officials said an investigation into the accident could take up to a year.
More Safety

AAA Testing Finds Gaps in Intersection AEB Crash Prevention
Testing of four 2026 model-year vehicles found that automatic emergency braking prevented collisions in standardized intersection scenarios, but three vehicles failed to avoid crashes when another vehicle turned into their path.
Read More →
Which Fleet Types Have the Highest Severe Speeding Rates?
New research from SambaSafety finds significant differences in speeding rates across fleet industries, even as nearly 90% of surveyed fleets report using telematics.
Read More →
When a Cyberattack Hits Your Fleet: What Happens Next?
“You have two opportunities to test your plans: when you choose or when the threat actor chooses.” A cybersecurity expert reveals what fleet managers need to know before a cyberattack puts their operations at risk — and why the decisions made in the first moments can shape the entire recovery.
Read More →
Tips for Driving Safely on Halloween Night
This video features a reminder from the Connecticut Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Connecticut Police Chiefs Association, urging drivers to prioritize safety this Halloween.
Read More →
IIHS Crash Avoidance Tests Reveal Safety Gaps in Cargo Vans and Work Trucks
New IIHS crash avoidance ratings show uneven performance among cargo vans and heavy-duty pickups, with most struggling to avoid vehicle-to-vehicle collisions.
Read More →
What’s Next for Fleet? Safety, AI & Industry Recognition | AF News Recap
Could your company's culture be encouraging distracted driving? This week, we're exploring how workplace expectations affect driver safety, what AI, EVs, and autonomous vehicles could mean for the future of fleet management, and how fleet professionals can strengthen their award nominations.
Read More →
Does Your Fleet's Culture Encourage Distracted Driving?
What happens when the people responsible for enforcing safety rules are the ones setting the wrong example? The answer may reveal why some of the biggest risks to fleet drivers have little to do with what's written in the employee handbook.
Read More →
Fleet Manager’s Ultimate Playbook: Navigating the New Standard in OEM Connectivity
Rising operating costs, driver safety concerns, and unplanned downtime are putting unprecedented pressure on modern fleets. Discover how fleet managers use embedded OEM connectivity and real-time vehicle data to cut TCO, prevent downtime, and protect drivers without aftermarket telematics hardware.
Read More →
From Driver Well-Being to EV Charging | AF News Recap
Mental health belongs in the fleet safety conversation. This week, we’re looking at five ways fleets can support employee well-being before a crisis, plus Holman’s expansion in Mexico, new one-day Fleet Forward passes, and why EV charging demand is outpacing infrastructure growth.
Read More →
Nexar-Nauto Merger Aims to Give Fleets Better Safety Intelligence Through Larger Driving Dataset
Stefan Heck tells Automotive Fleet that combining more than 10 billion miles of driving history with Nexar's AI models will give fleets deeper insights into driver risk and roadway conditions than either company could provide independently.
Read More →