(The following report appeared at WRAL.com on February 9.)
SEABOARD, N.C. — More than a dozen cars of a CSX freight train derailed west of Seaboard in Northampton County Monday afternoon.
CSX officials said at least 16 cars derailed around 3:30 p.m. while the freight train was making its daily route between Rocky Mount and Branchdale, Va.
The train was carrying hazardous materials, but the cars that derailed were not carrying anything hazardous, CSX officials said. The train had 42 loaded cars and 53 empty cars.
No injuries have been reported.
N.C. Highway 186 has been closed in the area.
Northampton County Sheriff Wardie P. Vincent said that emergency crews were on the scene nearly two hours after the derailment. CSX officials were investigating the cause of the accident.
It was not clear Monday evening how long the clean up would take to complete. No other trains use this stretch of track.