Drone photo of CP train derailment (courtesy KVRR).
WYNDMERE, N.D. (KFGO) – A Canadian Pacific Railroad spokesperson says a preliminary investigation indicates a broken rail caused a train derailment around two miles south of Wyndmere, North Dakota.
Richland County Emergency Manager Brett Lambrecht says 31 cars of the 70-car train derailed. A spokesman for CP Railway says there is no threat to public safety and there have been no injuries, no fire, and no evacuations. Some of the cars were carrying salts and a hazardous material, liquid asphalt, that the CP official confirmed is leaking.
Lambrecht says the oil is flammable but with the rail cars tipping over into the snow the material solidifies and cools it and there’s less chance of starting fire.
CP’s assistant vice-president of communications Patrick Waldron said the incident occurred at about 11:15 p.m. Sunday. He said emergency response teams, including hazardous materials experts, were on scene Monday morning along with the Wyndmere fire chief assessing the incident in coordination with local first responders.
Canadian Pacific officials said the spills have been contained to the derailment site. A spokesman said they are working with the North Dakota Environmental Quality Department on a remediation plan and are committed to the full clean up of the site.
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