(The Grand Island Independent posted the following story on its website on May 5.)
HAZARD — Roughly 15 cars from three freight trains derailed Monday afternoon on a two-mile stretch of Burlington Northern Santa Fe track just northwest of Hazard.
The derailment took place at about 12:55 p.m., according to The Associated Press, and occurred about 30 miles northeast of Kearney. No injuries were reported in the accident.
Burlington Northern spokesman Steve Forsberg said seven empty coal cars derailed from a westbound train, while five cars from an eastbound work train carrying train-bed rock left the track. The three remaining derailed cars belonged to a train carrying various freight that was standing still on eastbound tracks, he said.
Forsberg said he did not know what caused the derailment, but said crews and equipment were being dispatched to help determine the cause and help with the cleanup.
“It’s really much too early to sort through this and piece together what happened,” Forsberg said. “There were some cars involved from three different trains. I wouldn’t characterize it as a derailment of three trains.”
Fire crews were on the scene, but nearby Nebraska Highway 2 was not blocked and remained opened after the derailment.
“At this point, we don’t know of any hazardous material being spilled,” Forsberg said.
Seven of the 15 cars were “pretty empty,” Forsberg said, although there are also no estimates as to the amount of damage.