EAST PALESTINE, Ohio — On the night three weeks ago that a Norfolk Southern train derailed here, flames erupted from the wreckage and released toxic smoke. Brian Crossmon said his eyes burned and his girlfriend’s 9-year-old son vomited as they were forced to flee their home.
They returned to their duplex about 12 days later during air testing, but couldn’t stay. Though the smoke is gone and officials say the air is safe, the effects of the burned chemicals linger. Inside their home, they felt light-headed and suffered headaches. Crossmon’s girlfriend doesn’t feel comfortable living there anymore and is concerned with the health of her son, who has asthma.
“It’s just been chaos, stress, uncertainty,” Crossmon said in a recent interview.
