Reading.
Residents, Officials Want Answers about Decision to Sidetrack Train
Railroad workers came under fire Saturday for diverting two dozen runaway freight cars without warning, causing the cars to derail and destroy trackside homes.
"It may have been right for them, but not for me," said resident Luis Vasquez, 59. "I don't know if they didn't have time to warn us – that's what I want to think, but I keep considering other possibilities. There are too many questions these people avoid answering."
Twenty-eight freight cars derailed Friday in a blue-collar area east of Los Angeles, unleashing a blizzard of lumber. Thirteen people, including three children, were treated for minor injuries. "I've been asking everyone the cause of this, but everyone keeps me waiting for the answers," said Mike Johnson, one of the injured.
The two homes where Vasquez lived with his wife, two daughters and son were wiped out, but the family escaped injury. "I've certainly considered filling a lawsuit, but we'll have to wait and see. I don't enjoy living with this kind of stress."
Union Pacific Railroad spokesman Mark Davis said diverting the cars to a side track was a split-second decision. Had the cars continued westward, they could have hit passenger trains or freight cars laden with hazardous materials.
Davis said the railroad warned emergency authorities about 20 minutes before the cars derailed, but could not say what agency or agencies were called. He admitted making the decision was an attempt to avoid disaster, but resulted in a 'major catastrophe'.
Questions
Choose the best explanations for the following phrases…
- … in a "blue-collar area" east of Los Angeles means:
- diverting the cars to a side track was a "split-second decision" means:
- Railroad workers "came under fire" means:
- a "blizzard" of lumber means:
- everyone "keeps me waiting" for the answers means:
Are the following statements about the article correct?
1. This decision was made to avoid a possibly fatal disaster.
2. The train derailed in the business district of East Los Angeles.
3. People were given plenty of time to move to safety before the crash occurred.
4. Mark Davis is satisfied with the decision to divert the railroad cars because no one was killed in the accident.
5. Luis Vasquez may decide to take Union Pacific Railroad to court.