A train derailed in Knoxville, Tennessee, on Saturday night spilling shipping containers and damaging buildings.
No injuries have been reported as the 48 of 68 total rail cars on the Norfolk Southern train derailed just after 10pm. The cause of the crash is unknown.
The train was not carrying hazardous materials but Knoxville police say many of the cars are hanging precariously off the track.
A train derailed in Knoxville, Tennessee, on Saturday night spilling shipping containers and damaging buildings
No injuries have been reported as the 48 of 68 total rail cars on the Norfolk Southern train derailed just after 10pm
Crews have been working since last night assessing the damage and removing the rail cars
Crews have been working since last night to remove the rail cars.
Any unauthorized person on the tracks will be arrested for safety reasons.
The cars collided with two buildings owned by Morton Properties, which rents space out to small businesses, owner Sharon Morton told the Knoxville News Sentinel.
The properties house a total of 18 businesses and Morton estimated that about five were damaged, but no one was in the buildings at the time.
‘There is a boat repair business, heating and air, all kinds of small businesses,’ Morton said. ‘It’s unfortunate because it’s their livelihood.’
The cars collided with two buildings owned by Morton Properties, which rents space out to small businesses. The owner says that five of the 18 businesses were damaged
Police say cars hang precariously and any unauthorized people on the tracks will be arrested
One of the businesses damaged by the derailment was a boat repair shop called Fiber Tech.
‘One of the cars is sitting inside my building,’ the unnamed owner told the Sentinel. ‘There was a motor home parked next to the building. There is a train car sitting on it. Inside the building is a train car that came through the back of the building.’
In the dark, he said, it was hard to tell the extent of the damage.
Knoxville resident Michael Robinson’s camper trailer was crushed by a train car.
Michael Robinson, of Knoxville, discovers that his camper trailer was crushed by a train car
Robinson is shown above assessing the extent of the damage to his camper after the crash
Gerdau Construction Products, a steel manufacturer, was struck by the derailed cars and appears to have sustained significant damage.
Susan Terpay, director of public relations for Norfolk Southern, said a total of 20 cars left the track. Nineteen of those cars were carrying shipping containers. The twentieth car carried automobiles.
Nearby residents recall hearing a loud screeching sound before the derailment happened.
Police said Norfolk Southern will head up the investigation into why the train derailed.
The train was not carrying any hazardous materials but the area is closed off for safety reasons
Police said Norfolk Southern will head up the investigation into why the train derailed