Train Collision In Florida Injures 2, Mangles Rail Cars
CITRA, Fla. (AP) — Two trains loaded with coal and phosphate rock collided in central Florida early Wednesday, derailing and sending at least 20 train cars tumbling over, authorities said. Both crew members on one of the trains received minor injuries; the others escaped unharmed.
The freight trains, owned by CSX Corp., hit each other about 4:15 a.m., and photographs from the scene showed crumpled cars filled with coal lying off the tracks. One of the locomotives also spilled diesel fuel in the area, the Marion County Sheriff's Office said in a news release.
The company was sending environmental experts to the scene to aid in containment of hazardous materials at the site, CSX said in a news release.
The phosphate train was traveling to Chicago with three locomotives and 100 loaded cars, authorities and the company said. The coal train, also with three locomotives, was headed to Tampa with 110 loaded cars. Each train had two crew members.
CSX was working to clear rail cars that are currently still on the tracks and blocking traffic in the area.
The cause of the crash is under investigation, the sheriff's office said.
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