MADISON, Wis. — A freight train derailed along the Mississippi River in southwestern Wisconsin Thursday, injuring one crew member, emergency officials said.
The train derailed in Crawford County along the Mississippi River at about 12:15 p.m., WKBT-TV reported. About 20 BNSF cars were involved, said Crawford County Emergency Management Specialist Marc Myhre.
Two cars ended up in the river but washed ashore. Hazardous materials believed to be batteries were onboard, but they’ve been contained and don’t pose a threat to the public, officials said.
BNSF Railway spokesperson Lena Kent said in a statement that two of the train’s three locomotives and an unknown number of cars carrying “freight of all kinds” derailed on the eastern edge of the river. All crew members were accounted for, with one receiving a medical evaluation, she said.
The cause of the derailment is under investigation, Kent said. She did not immediately respond to a follow-up email inquiring about whether batteries were on board and whether the derailment has resulted in any environmental contamination.
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources spokesperson Katie Grant did not immediately respond to an email asking if the derailment has resulted in any environmental contamination.
The derailment comes almost three months after a Norfolk Southern train derailed in East Palestine, Ohio. Officials there decided to release and burn toxic vinyl chloride from five tanker cars to prevent a catastrophic explosion.
Hundreds of people had to evacuate in Raymond, Minnesota, last month after a BNSF train hauling ethanol and corn syrup derailed and caught and caught fire.
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