WKBT La Crosse, WI-NewsChannel 8-Train Derailment Clean Up Continues

Train Derailment Clean Up Continues

Crews are working Wednesday to clean up a 27 car train derailment in Houston County that leaked ethanol.

The Houston County Sheriff's Department says the train derailed sometime between 3:30 and 5:30 a.m. about one mile from the city of Reno, which is south of Brownsville on Highway 26.

Sheriff's officials say no one was injured in the derailment. Residents in the area were not at risk, though the spill would have been handled differently had the spill been in a populated area, according to MnDOT.

Houston County Sheriff Doug Ely tells NewsChannel 8 Wednesday that crews have drained the ethanol out of the train cars, and are working to tip the cars upright.

Highway 26 has been closed since the derailment Tuesday morning, but Ely says the highway will re-open at 7:00pm Wednesday. Flag crews will direct traffic around work being done at the site starting at 6:00am Thursday. Drivers should expect delays.

Department of Public Safety spokesman Doug Neville told the Associated Press says it's not
clear if the privately owned bridge collapsed under the train, or if derailed cars took it out.

The derailed train is owned by the Iowa, Chicago & Eastern Railroad, but it's also unclear if that railroad also owns the bridge.

An IC&E spokesman says 27 cars derailed Tuesday morning. There were no injuries. The company says the cause of the derailment is under investigation.

In all 27 cars derailed, said a MnDOT spokesman. Other train cars spilled soybeans into a marsh area. Department of Public Safety spokesman Doug Neville says the derailment could be related to the failure of a wooden bridge. It's not clear if the privately owned bridge collapsed under the train, or if derailed cars took it out.

Neville says the derailed train is owned by the Iowa, Chicago & Eastern Railroad, and the same company owns the bridge.

What do you think? Add your comments below!