(The following story by Tonya Smith-King appeared on the Jackson Sun website on February 29.)
MILAN, Tenn. — Part of a cargo train that was carrying hazardous materials derailed Thursday night in Milan, but none of the hazardous materials leaked out, according to a Fire Department official. No one was injured in the accident, said Assistant Fire Chief James Fountain.
The CSX train included five tank cars containing methane gas, Fountain said. Only one of those tank cars was involved in the accident, and it was not damaged to point where any of the methane leaked, he said.
In all, six cars of the train derailed where the tracks cross North First Street in Milan near a BP gas station. Milan officials were notified of the accident about 10 p.m. Thursday.
Members of the train’s crew told fire officials that the accident happened because something was wrong with the track, Fountain said. They said that the track was damaged near where the tracks pass Double Springs Cumberland Presbyterian Church. The church is on Double Springs Road off Tenn. 79 between the cities of Gibson and Milan.
The train started to derail in the area where the tracks are damaged, crew members told Milan officials. The track will be closed until it is fixed, Fountain said.