15 tanker cars of a CSX Corporation train derailed Wednesday afternoon in downtown Lynchburg, Virginia while carrying crude oil, according to a statement by the company. No casualties have been reported yet, but the accident sent flames and billowing black smoke into the air, and oil is leaking into the nearby James River, officials said. Emergency crews have evacuated seven buildings and 300 people in the surrounding area. It is unclear what exactly caused the train to derail.This is the latest in a series of freight train accidents that have led to spilled crude oil in the past year, including major derailments in Alabama and North Dakota. According to the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, more than 1.15 million gallons of crude oil was spilled in the US in 2013 alone — which is more than twice the amount that was spilled in the previous four decades.Subscribe to VICE NewsFollow VICE News on TwitterLike VICE News on Facebook
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