(The following article by Lee Egerstrom was posted on the St. Paul Pioneer Press website on September 29.)
INDEPENDENCE, Minn. — Seven rail cars are of the tracks and five homes have been evacuated in Independence after an overnight train derailment in the northwest suburb.
The West Hennepin Public Safety Department and Medina police issued a statement early today saying area fire departments and hazard materials teams were brought in to assess any danger.
The seven derailed cars included four tanker cars used for transporting anhydrous ammonia, but they were empty. Two hopper cars used to haul sand and one car hauling railroad ties also derailed.
The derailment of the Canadian Pacific Railway train occurred at 9:18 p.m.