(The Associated Press circulated the following article on March 24.)
STORM LAKE, Iowa — A stolen propane tank placed on railroad tracks exploded when it was struck by a train in Storm Lake, authorities said.
Tuesday night’s incident was the second of its kind since October.
No injuries were reported and the train did not sustain any apparent structural damage, the Storm Lake Police Department said.
The Canadian National Illinois Central train was heading west when workers observed the 40-pound propane tank on the railroad tracks. The train could not be stopped before it struck the tank, police said.
The tank had been stolen from a storage container at the Buena Vista County Shed located near the explosion, police said.
On Oct. 14, 2004, an almost identical incident took place. That case remains under investigation.