Federal authorities are investigating the cause of a train derailment that happened yesterday afternoon near DeSoto.
Crawford County Emergency Management responded to the scene south of DeSoto that occurred at 12:15p.m. A BNSF freight train carrying hazardous materials, amongst other cargo, derailed on the tracks, causing two of three train engines to become derailed and an unknown number of cars to come off the track. Two of the cars came to rest in the Mississippi River.The cargo included lithium-ion batteries, oxygen containers, and paint.
The Crawford County Sheriff’s Office, along with the local fire departments, emergency medical services, and a HazMat unit were dispatched to the site to assess the situation and ensure the safety of the surrounding community.
There were four BNSF employees who were transported to the hospital for medical evaluation. However, as a precautionary measure, Crawford County Emergency Management worked with the Crawford County Highway Department to shut down a section of State Highway 35 until the clean-up process can be completed. At this time there is no estimate for the length of time the highway will be closed.
The cause of the derailment is currently unknown. BNFS and federal agencies are looking into the cause of the derailment. There is currently no harm to the community or environment, but Desoto Fire Department is working closely with BNSF staff throughout this clean-up process to prepare for any unknown. HazMat teams on location have contained all hazardous materials. They are actively mitigating any new hazards that may arise.
Crawford County Emergency Management Director James Hackett says this response by volunteer departments was nothing short of amazing. All entities worked as one team to come up with the safest solution to combat this large issue. They will continue to monitor this situation and reevaluate safety plans until the conclusion of this incident.
Crawford County Emergency Management encourages all residents to stay away from the site and to follow all detours and safety precautions issued by the department.