(The following story by Dirk VanderHart appeared on the Springfield News-Leader website on June 5.)
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — One Burlington Northern-Santa Fe worker was injured in a train collision at the railyard at Division Street and Park Avenue.
Sometime shortly after 3:30 p.m. today, a train reportedly hit another train, causing a derailment at the BNSF railyard. An undetermined number of train cars are leaning and it’s unknown if any of the train cars have fallen over — although coal has been spilled.
“There is a concern about some hazardous materials,” said Roger Howard, director of government affairs for BNSF. “We will always error on the side of caution.”
Springfield police and firefighters are on scene along with the BNSF officials. Police spokesman Officer Grant Story said the initial call indicated a train derailed and was showing smoke.
“We’re responding to check for any potential hazmat,” Story said.
Authorities have closed Division Street from Kansas Expressway to Colgate.
The BNSF worker suffered minor injuries but no name or other details have been released.