DRESBACH, Minn. (Dec. 17) - Two freight trains collided early Wednesday, derailing 40 cars and sending an engine and some railcars plunging into the Mississippi River, authorities said. Two workers were taken to a hospital as a precaution.
It's unknown why the two Canadian-Pacific trains were traveling toward each other on the single tracks, said Joyce Tlougan, deputy director of Winona County Emergency Management.
An 800-gallon propane tank at a switching station was struck by one of the derailed cars and was leaking, the La Crosse (Wis.) Tribune reported. The nearby Mosher veterans home were evacuated as a precaution, authorities said.
Two railroad employees were taken to a hospital but only as a precaution, La Crescent Fire Chief Bernie Buehler told the newspaper.
The accident happened about 5:30 a.m. near Dresbach in southeastern Minnesota. The mostly rural area includes the Mississippi River bluffs, with the rails running alongside the river.
"We do have one of the engines in the Mississippi River, not totally submerged, but it is in there," Tlougan said. "We are aren't sure of any hazardous materials that may have been in the cars."
Canadian-Pacific dispatched hazardous material professionals to the scene. One engine involved in the collision was leaking diesel fuel but the fluid was contained on land, Tlougan said.
Mike LoVecchio, a spokesman for Canadian-Pacific in Canada, did not immediately return a telephone message Wednesday seeking further detail.
Buehler said one train coming from Portage, Wis., was pulling 100 cars. The other was coming from La Crescent and carrying 15.
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