Train derails in Scott County
SCOTT COUNTY, Mo. (KBSI) – Emergency crews are on the scene of a train derailment in Scott County that happened early Friday morning.
At 1:40 a.m. Friday, September 15, the Scott City Fire Department was dispatched to a mutual aid request with Perkins Fire Department for a train derailment with possible hazardous materials onboard.
Chief 2800 and Ladder 2841 responded.
Firefighters assisted with setting up a command post at the intersection of County Road 266 and Highway P.
The Region E HSRT team was initiated due to unknown involved extent of possible product on board in the debris with several people stating they could smell a chemical.
Since it was dark and emergency couldn’t get a full view of the derailment, personnel on-scene split up into two teams to cover both sides of the elevated track to fully investigate the extent of the derailment and check for any hazards.
Eighteen rail cars fully derailed from the trail, but all the hazardous material cars were still safe and secured on the tracks, according to the Scott City Fire Department.
Scott City firefighters remained on scene to assist with command and traffic control until Missouri Department of Transportation arrived to put up barricades.
Once the barricades were in place all agencies were released from the scene and went in service returning.
Perkins Fire, Oran Fire, Delta Fire, North Scott County Ambulance, Scott County Sheriff Department, Morley Police and Missouri State Highway Patrol assisted.
Eighteen train cars derailed carrying automobiles.
No toxic chemicals were spilled.
Shawn Jackson is the Scott City fire Chief.
“We were dispatched at one forty this morning to assist Perkins Fire Department with a train derailment,” said Jackson. “Upon initial dispatch we didn’t know if there was any hazardess materials or what was involved in that. So us along with several other fire department agencies were dispatched to the incident.”
P highway is expected to be blocked off for the rest of the day as crews work to clean up the highway.
