June 24, 2023==
RAILROAD BRIDGE COLLAPSE NEAR COLUMBUS MONTANA, TANKER CARS IN RIVER==
A dispatcher with the Stillwater County Sheriff's office tells us that the 911 call came in at 6:12 Saturday morning. A railroad bridge collapsed between Reed Point and Columbus, Montana with multiple tanker cars in the Yellowstone River. The dispatcher tells us that no injuries were reported.
David Stamey with Stillwater County Disaster and Emergency Services sent out the following information early Saturday morning:
On 24 June 2023 at approximately 0600 there was a train derailment on the rail bridge that crosses the Yellowstone River in Stillwater County Montana. The bridge collapsed and there are multiple rail cars in the Yellowstone River. We have not determined the cause of the derailment.
Currently Stillwater County Emergency Services, Sheriff's Office, Commissioners, Columbus Fire & Rescue are on scene with Montana Rail Link and other State agencies.
Stamey added:
We ask everyone to keep away from the areas around the Yellowstone River Rail Bridge, located around Reed Point.
According to the Stillwater County News, boat ramps and fishing accesses downstream have been closed down by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.
Here's more from the Stillwater County News on Facebook:
A total of 8 rail cars are involved and in a great stroke of luck, none contained oil.
Water treatment facilities downstream have also been notified. The City of Laurel shut down their water plant Saturday morning:
City of Laurel: With the unfortunate train derailment, the city of Laurel, to protect its citizens has had to shut down the water plant because of unknown chemicals coming down the river. Please conserve water usage until the problem is resolved.
Here's a quick photo that Trevan Hiersche snagged from the interstate:
https://montanatalks.com/railroad-bridge-collapse-near-columbus-tanker-cars-in-river/?trackback=twitter_mobile