Va. Mayor Arrested After Allegedly Showing Up Drunk to Train Derailment Scene

NEED TO KNOW

• Paul Morrison, 57, was arrested on suspicion of public intoxication at a train derailment scene near the Virginia–West Virginia border

• Video shows the Rich Creek mayor interacting with first responders before deputies took him into custody

• He was later released on his own recognizance, jail records show, and posted an apology on the town's Facebook page

A Virginia mayor showed up drunk to a train derailment scene near the West Virginia border and ended the day in handcuffs, authorities allege.

Rich Creek Mayor Paul Morrison, 57, was taken into custody Tuesday, April 28, by deputies with the Giles County Sheriff’s Office on suspicion of public intoxication, according to jail records cited by 10 News and FOX News .

Video obtained by 10 News shows Morrison at the scene near Glen Lyn, wearing a plaid shirt and appearing to interact with emergency crews and law enforcement before his arrest.

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A source told the outlet that Morrison showed up drunk at the derailment site, though officials have not publicly detailed what led to his arrest.

The arrest came as crews responded to the derailment along the Virginia–West Virginia border, where roughly a dozen train cars carrying soybean oil went off the tracks, according to WVVA , WDBJ and WSET . Officials said some of the non-hazardous oil leaked but was contained, and no injuries or evacuations were reported.

It is unclear when Morrison arrived at the scene, but a 911 call was placed reporting the train derailment at 4:52 p.m., per the outlets.

Jail records show Morrison was later released on his own recognizance.

On Thursday, April 30, the Town of Rich Creek shared a statement from Morrison on Facebook in which he apologized for his actions.

“I would like to offer apologies for my state and any actions on 04/28 at the railroad incident. I regret any inconvenience as well as embarrassment this may have caused,” he said.

“I am truly sorry to have let you down and can assure you that nothing like this will happen again,” Morrison added.

The mayor added that neither he nor the town would make further comments.

Morrison was elected mayor in November through a write-in campaign, receiving 77 of the town’s 106 votes, according to 10 News. Rich Creek has a population of about 700 people.

The cause of the derailment remains under investigation.

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