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Thursday, May. 14, 2009

Cars from freight train derail in Empire

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EMPIRE — Twenty-two cars on a freight train derailed this evening when the track broke on the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad north of Yosemite Boulevard, a Stanislaus County sheriff's spokesman said.

No injuries were reported, and the derailed freight cars did not tip over, said sheriff's deputy Andrew Winter.

The derailment occurred about 5 p.m., and the Burlington Northern Santa Fe freight train came off the tracks just north of Summit Way in Empire.

"It sounded like a big piece of metal hitting another big piece of metal," said 19-year-old Empire resident Cameron Buell, who was nearby when the train derailed.

Vehicle traffic in town was not affected. Other freight trains and Amtrak passenger trains, heading to and from Modesto, could not move through the area until the train was moved out of the way, Winter said.

Most of the freight cars were empty, and the cargo was not hazardous, Winter said. None of the cargo spilled, but it was unclear what the freight train was carrying, he said.

Bee staff writer Rosalio Ahumada can be reached at rahumada@modbee.com or 578-2394.