Freight cars carrying hazardous materials crashed into the Yellowstone River in Montana on Saturday when a bridge the freight train was traveling on collapsed.
photo_camera
Freight cars fall into the Yellowstone River near Columbus, Montana
Photo: Matthew Brown/MTI/MTVA
The crash, about 60 kilometers west of Billings, caused no injuries, but several cars of the freight train fell into the water. The wagons were carrying hot asphalt and molten sulfur, so officials shut off drinking water sources in the Yellowstone River downstream from the bridge while they assess whether the dangerous material entered the water. Andhra News Agency said yellow liquid was leaking from the wagons that fell into the water.
Stillwater County Emergency Management said there was no immediate danger to those working at the scene. He added that the material that entered the water was diluted by the swollen river. The bridge collapse also destroyed the fiber optic cable of Internet provider Global Net. The service provider has indicated that there may be interruptions in its customers’ internet access.
In nearby Yellowstone County, officials asked residents to conserve water because restrictions imposed by the hazardous material spill could cause water shortages. The Central Railway Administration is investigating the cause of the bridge collapse. Recent heavy rains have caused flooding in the river, but it is not clear if this is the cause of the accident. (APNews/mti)