A train filled with crude oil pumped out of western Canada derailed in western Minnesota Wednesday morning spilling about 20,000 gallons, according to Canadian Pacific Railway.
"There were no injuries and no public safety issues," said spokesman Ed Greenberg of CP's Twin Cities office.
The spilled oil posed no threat to ground or surface water because the ground was frozen hard, said Dan Olson, a Minnesota Pollution Control Agency representative.
The CP train was southbound from Winnipeg passing through Thief River Falls before derailing in a rural crossing near Parkers Prairie, Minn., according to Greenberg.
Parkers Prairie is about 40 miles south of Detroit Lakes, Minn.
ADVERTISEMENT
"Just before 7 o'clock in the morning 14 cars derailed," Greenberg said. "One of the 14 cars that derailed was compromised as a result of the derailment and its product seeped out. It was contained and we are well into the process of cleaning it up."
Between 20,000 and 30,000 gallons of crude spilled or leaked, mostly from one car that had the greatest damage and lost nearly its entire 26,000-gallon load, Olson said.
The 5,700-foot train was made up of two engines pulling 94 tanker cars.
CP is investigating the cause of derailment but no information was available Wednesday, Greenberg said.
He didn't know how fast it was traveling at the time, but said the train's emergency braking system worked, stopping the train once the cars derailed.
Other trains are using alternate routes, he said, and he's not sure when the track will reopen.
Call Lee at (701) 780-1237; (800) 477-6572, ext. 1237; or send email to slee@gfherald.com . The Associated Press contributed to this report.
ADVERTISEMENT
