Train derailed in Wisconsin: several wagons fell into the river

A train derailment in southwestern Wisconsin on April 27 sent two of the 12 derailed cars into the Mississippi River, injuring four members of the train's crew. Read more about the accident told the publication CNN.

Photo: IStock

The train derailed around 12:15 local time near the village of De Soto.

At least 12 carriages have derailed, according to a video taken by eyewitness Caitlin Nolan. Other images on social media, along with a video taken by Nolan, show some of the wagons in the river.

She said she was on her way to college around noon when she saw a derailed train.

“I didn’t see a fire or smell, but I did see a few wagons in the water on both sides of the tracks,” Nolan said.

Employees of the BNSF train operator arrived at the scene, the cause of the incident is being investigated.

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According to Mark Mire, Crawford County emergency manager, the train was carrying hazardous materials. But the wagons that fell into the river did not contain any hazardous materials, presumably batteries, he noted.

However, North America's second-largest transcontinental railroad, BNSF, after Union Pacific, said some of the derailed containers contained paint and lithium-ion batteries. But neither of the two containers that fell into the river contained hazardous materials.

“We were informed that there were hazardous materials on the train, but this is not currently a concern for the population or rescuers, since these cars are intact,” Mire said.

Hazardous materials crews remained at the crash site as a precaution, as some of the wagons not in the river contained lithium-ion batteries, which can react chemically when in contact with water, Vernon County Emergency Management Director Brandon Larson said. The train also contained oxygen tanks, which can be explosive if not properly maintained.

According to BNSF, two of the train's three locomotives and "an unknown number of wagons carrying all kinds of cargo" were derailed.

The main track was blocked in both directions after the incident and the estimated time to reopen the track is unknown.

Heavy rain the previous day had left parts of the Mississippi River on the verge of flooding, but railroad tracks were above water at the derailment, Mirat said.

Officials "still haven't determined what caused the train derailment," Crawford County Director of Emergency Management Jim Hackett said in the evening.

National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy said the agency was gathering information about the crash.

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Rep. Derrick Van Orden, who represents the area, said his office is coordinating with local officials, the BNSF and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to "get answers to what happened."

The congressman's staff arrived at the crash site. They will "continue to monitor the situation and determine next steps," he said in a statement.

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