NORTH BERGEN— A CSX freight train derailed Tuesday afternoon along Tonnelle Avenue, causing a chemical spill that prompted a multi-agency hazmat response and the closure of Route 3. No injuries were reported.

Incident Details and Emergency Reponse

The incident occurred at approximately 3:15 p.m. near 2425 Tonnelle Avenue. Thirteen rail cars left the tracks, and one car leaked ethyl acetate, a highly flammable solvent commonly used in paint and nail polish remover, according to North Bergen Mayor Nick Sacco.

Emergency crews from the North Bergen Police and Fire Departments responded to the scene, with Jersey City Hazmat teams providing mutual aid. Crews are mitigating the spill by diluting the chemical with large amounts of water. Sacco stated that officials have confirmed no danger to the public.

While Route 3 remains closed in both directions near the derailment site, Tonnelle Avenue itself has remained open to traffic. New Jersey Transit officials confirmed that Morris & Essex Line service was not impacted by the derailment.

The cause of the derailment remains under investigation. CSX Transportation, which operates the freight line, acknowledged the incident in a statement, emphasizing that "our primary focus is on the safety of onsite personnel, the surrounding community, and the environment." Investigators have not yet revealed what caused the crash, and the volume of ethyl acetate that leaked has not been disclosed.

The incident occurred on the Northern Branch Line, a freight corridor running through Hudson County. Federal rail safety officials have not yet indicated whether the National Transportation Safety Board or the Federal Railroad Administration will open a formal investigation into the derailment.

Sources

• Jesse Zanger and Adi Guajardo, CBS New York, "Freight train derails in North Bergen, N.J." (April 14, 2026)

• Eyewitness News, ABC7NY, "Crews respond to freight train derailment and spill in North Bergen, New Jersey" (April 14, 2026)

• News 12 New Jersey, "Freight train derails in North Bergen; 13 cars off track, ethyl acetate spills" (April 14, 2026)

• Office of North Bergen Mayor Nick Sacco, Statement (April 14, 2026)