Waxahachie, Texas, was at a standstill after a Union Pacific train derailed, startling residents, sparking road closures, and calling for a complex cleanup operation.
According to reports, several train cars slid off the tracks, scattering debris and blocking a nearby intersection.
“There was a train derailment in the Downtown Waxahachie area at approximately 11:33 p.m. on Monday, June 9. Currently, the affected area spans from Peters to Gibson streets. Law enforcement, Fire-Rescue, and other City crews are on-site to assist in securing the area, allowing Union Pacific to work on clearing the train. We anticipate that this will take several hours to complete,” The city posted on its Facebook page.
No injuries have been reported, but the incident did create a logistical puzzle in the heart of the historic city.
“Happened just before midnight. 16 cars jumped tracks, 14 are tanker cars carrying ethanol. City officials confirm no leaks, no injuries, no immediate danger to the public,” Alanna Quillen, NBCDFW reporter, added via X.
The city’s social media team posted an update saying that streets from Monroe to North Elm remained closed throughout Tuesday morning as crews worked around the clock to right the toppled train cars and repair damage to the nearby rail line.
Adding to the difficulty surrounding the derailment, some of the overturned rail cars were apparently carrying ethanol, a highly flammable chemical, as reported by WFAA News.
As of the time of publication, Union Pacific has not yet provided an explanation for the derailment, and there is no apparent or firm timeline for when all of the repairs will be completed.
However, as of late Tuesday afternoon, the streets in Waxahachie seem to have been cleared once again, clearing some of the blockages caused by the derailment.
The impact:
It seems that some local public offices were closed due to the trainwreck and its impact on locals’ access to a nearby government building.
“FYI, this Ellis County government center is closed to the public because it’s feet away from the derailment & officials are using the parking lot as a staging area. People coming for car tags & other business are being turned away,” Quillen added on Tuesday morning.