Broken wheel caused train derailment in Lilbourn - KAIT-Jonesboro, AR-News, weather, sports

Broken wheel caused train derailment in Lilbourn

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A BNSF coal train derailed early Tuesday morning in Lilbourn. (Source: Josh Russell, KFVS Photojournalist) A BNSF coal train derailed early Tuesday morning in Lilbourn. (Source: Josh Russell, KFVS Photojournalist)
A BNSF coal train derailed early Tuesday morning in Lilbourn. (Source: Josh Russell, KFVS Photojournalist) A BNSF coal train derailed early Tuesday morning in Lilbourn. (Source: Josh Russell, KFVS Photojournalist)
A BNSF coal train derailed early Tuesday morning in Lilbourn. (Source: Josh Russell, KFVS Photojournalist) A BNSF coal train derailed early Tuesday morning in Lilbourn. (Source: Josh Russell, KFVS Photojournalist)
(Source: Karen Sullenger/cNews) (Source: Karen Sullenger/cNews)
(Source: Karen Sullenger/cNews) (Source: Karen Sullenger/cNews)

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LILBOURN, MO (KFVS) -

A Union Pacific spokesperson says a broken wheel caused the train derailment in Lilbourn Tuesday morning.

The derailment happened at 5:08 Tuesday morning and involved a Union Pacific train on Union Pacific tracks.

A preliminary investigation revealed the lead wheel on the tenth rail car broken and caused the derailment.

New Madrid County Sheriff's Office reports there were no injuries.

Crews inspected the train before it left for its destination and there was no indication of a faulty wheel.

The train loaded with coal was headed to New Madrid.

The Union Pacific spokesperson says they expect it to take about a month to clear everything from the tracks.

"The more intense it got the more unnerved I got and when I heard it just all suddenly stop, it really scared me." said Deborah Robinson. "I didn't know what I was going to find when I came out to the front of the house."

The derailment blocked 6th and 7th streets in Lilbourn. Hwy. D was also blocked from Hunter to 5th streets.

According to Union Pacific, 16 rail cars derailed. Thirteen of those cars flipped over on their sides. The entire train had 119 rail cars.

"One of my off-duty officers who lived near the train tracks heard the commotion," said Lilbourn Police Chief Dennis Young, "then 911 received the call that there had been a train derailment."

New Madrid County R-1 school buses were rerouted Tuesday morning in the Lilbourn area only due to rerouting around the derailment.

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