NORTH PLATTE, Neb. — Three Union Pacific freight trains collided Wednesday, igniting a fire that forced the closure of a portion of a highway, a wire service reports.
No hazardous materials were involved in the fire, which may have been caused by diesel fuel from the train engines, railroad spokesman Mark Davis said. The fire continue d to burn more than two hours after the 4:30 a.m. accident.
There was no immediate report of injuries.
The accident happened five miles east of North Platte in southwestern Nebraska. Authorities closed 13 miles of the two-lane U.S. Highway 30 near the accident.
According to Davis, an empty westbound coal train was rear-ended by another empty coal train. Then an eastbound train carrying auto parts on nearby track somehow got entangled in the wreckage, possibly by running into a derailed car, he said.
Union Pacific runs about 130 trains each day on the stretch of track.