(Graniteville) Jan. 10, 2005 - A spokeswoman for the National Transportation Safety Board says a switch was in the wrong position at a train wreck in Aiken County last week that killed nine people.

The victims died Thursday from chlorine vapors after a tanker car ruptured in the wreck involving a moving freight train routed onto a siding at a textile mill, where it hit a parked train.

NTSB spokeswoman Debbie Hersman says the crew of the parked train should have left the switch aligned with the main line. She says it doesn't appear that was done.

Hersman says investigators are examining how that happened. She says the crew is being interviewed and officials are back tracking on what the crew had done in the previous 96 hours.

Hersman says officials are reviewing dispatch and inspection records.

The board reported on Friday night the train's engineer did put on the emergency brakes before the crash.

The NTSB says it has also recovered the event recorder from the train. The recorder will be able to tell more about the train's speed, brake pressure and direction. At this time, NTSB investigators say they have not found any evidence of tampering or foul play on the train's switch.

Workers put a temporary patch on the tanker Sunday. Thom Berry with the Department of Health and Environmental Control says workers are trying to develop a permanent patch for the tanker.

Aiken County Sheriff Michael Hunt says residents living within a mile of the crash will likely have to stay away from their homes for several more days. A curfew remains in effect. Authorities worry the chlorine could leak again as workers clean up the damaged railroad cars.

Officials with Avondale Mills say all of its workers have been accounted for. Authorities had worried the death toll might rise because they didn't know where several workers were.

Updated 7:33pm by Chris Rees