Flawed Tankers Led to Fatal Train Derailment in Quebec

The lead Transportation Safety Board investigator says the rail tankers involved in a derailment and explosions that wiped out the heart of a small town in Quebec have a history of puncturing during accidents.

TSB investigator Donald Ross told The Associated Press in a telephone interview on Monday that the train that derailed in Lac-Megantic early Saturday killing at least 13 people had the DOT-111 tanker cars.

Ross says the Canada’s TSB has gone on record that it would like to see improvements on these tankers. He says it’s too early to say whether a different or modified tanker would have avoided this weekend’s tragedy.

The DOT-111 is a staple of the American freight rail fleet. But its flaws have been noted as far back as a 1991 safety study.