A Norfolk Southern freight train derailed into the Lehigh River in Lower Saucon Township, Pennsylvania on Saturday morning, causing concern in the community of 11,000 residents. The incident occurred just days after it was revealed that the company's CEO, Alan H. Shaw, received a significant pay raise last year, despite the company's net income falling by 44 percent. This is not the first derailment involving Norfolk Southern, as the company was also responsible for a derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, which caused lasting environmental damage and forced the evacuation of much of the small town.

Local authorities shut off the road leading to the site of the derailment in Pennsylvania, but reported no evacuations, injuries, or leaks from any containers. Some of the train cars were marked as carrying hazardous chemicals, but were found to be empty. Norfolk Southern released a statement thanking local emergency agencies for their quick response and stating that their crews and contractors were on the scene assessing the situation with first responders.

President Biden recently visited East Palestine, Ohio, where he criticized Norfolk Southern for the preventable derailment that caused toxic gas to billow across the community. He blamed the incident on greed by the railroad company and praised the efforts of federal, state, and local governments in cleaning up the disaster. Norfolk Southern has faced multiple derailments in the past year, including incidents in Pittsburgh and New Castle, Ohio.

The derailment in Pennsylvania sent cars careening off the tracks and onto the banks of the Lehigh River, with some ending up partially submerged in the water. Despite the chaos, no injuries or hazardous materials were reported. Norfolk Southern assured the public that there was no danger to the general public at the time of the incident. The company has come under scrutiny for its safety record and the impact of its operations on communities, with residents in East Palestine still hesitant to return to their homes due to health concerns from the previous derailment.