(The Associated Press circulated the following article on August 10.)
LUVERNE, N.D. — Strong winds knocked cars from an eastbound BNSF freight train off the track northwest of here in east-central North Dakota, Griggs County authorities said.
Sheriff Paul Hendrickson says more than a dozen flatbed cars were derailed or lost the cargo they were carrying when the winds hit the train as strong thunderstorms moved through the area Wednesday night.
The train was crossing a bridge at the time and some of the cargo ended up in Lake Ashtabula or the nearby Sheyenne River, he said. The bridge was damaged.
“We’ve just got a mess of stuff spread out,” Hendrickson said.
No injuries were reported and authorities said it didn’t appear any hazardous material was involved.