Authorities ponder reopening road after derailment

Associated Press//August 24, 2012//

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ELLICOTT CITY — Authorities in Ellicott City are considering reopening Main Street four days after a train derailment that killed two women.

Howard County police said they planned to meet late Friday afternoon with CSX Corp. officials overseeing the cleanup of coal spilled from 21 derailed cars.

Spokeswoman Sherry Llewellyn says they’ll make a decision based on Friday’s cleanup progress.

The street is part of state Route 144. A nearly quarter-mile section running beneath the tracks has been closed since late Monday night.

Police say two 19-year-old women were buried in coal as they sat on the train bridge. They had sent tweets indicating they were drinking and enjoying the summer night before going back to college.

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