7 Train Cars Derail in Compton

A four-square-block area of downtown Compton was evacuated today when seven cars of a 55-car Southern Pacific freight train--including a tanker containing 30,000 gallons of highly flammable liquefied butane--derailed near City Hall and police headquarters.

Compton Fire Chief Monroe Smith ordered the precautionary evacuation even though the butane tank car apparently did not rupture. There was no fire and there were no reports of injuries. The accident occurred at 6:40 a.m. on the north-south tracks near the intersection of Willowbrook Avenue and Compton Boulevard before many people were in the area, but hundreds were prevented from crossing police and fire lines to go to work.