Train derails in Boundary County
Coeur d'Alene Press | UPDATED 5 years, 2 months AGO
(Courtesy photo)A BNSF Railway train is buffeted by the Kootenai River after derailing late Wednesday night.
(Courtesy photo)The scene of a BNSF Railway train derailment late Wednesday night. The derailment sent at least one car of the 113-car train into the water with the crew temporarily trapped before escaping the engine and sitting on the top before they were rescued.
(Courtesy photo)A BNSF Railway engine sits half-submerged in the Kootenai River after derailing late Wednesday night.
(Courtesy photo)A BNSF Railway train sits in the Kootenai River after derailing late Wednesday night. The derailment sent at least one car of the 113-car train into the water with the crew temporarily trapped before escaping the engine and sitting on the top before they were rescued.
BONNERS FERRY — A train derailed Wednesday night in Boundary County, sending at least one car into the water.
Boundary County Sheriff’s Office advised at 9:29 p.m. that its crews were involved in an unspecified police activity in the area of Katka Road and Toboggan Lane.
According to scanner traffic, that incident is a train derailment that happened in the Ridge Road — about 6 miles from the Crossport area — which sent at least one car into the water with the crew temporarily trapped. However, by 10 p.m., reports had two of the train crew sitting on the top of the truck and all crew members out of the train. Reports also indicate the train sinking on the front end but a haz-mat car included in the train cars was not in the river and was instead on the riverbank.
The cars are connected together but the scene is considered treacherous.
First responders reached the scene shortly after 10 p.m. and were attempting to reach the crew at that time, according to reports.
Reports also indicate rescue crews were staging in the Crossport area. Two Bear Air Rescue also was en route to the accident.
