A freight train carrying gravel derailed Monday in central Texas.
The Manor Police Department announced in a Facebook post that a train had derailed in the morning hours of March 6 at an intersection in Manor, just outside of Austin. The derailment resulted in a “minor spill of gravel,” according to the post.
This is not the first occurrence of a derailment in the area, as several train cars spilled dirt and sand in downtown Manor in 2018.
Watco, the transportation company that owns the track in this region, said that this train was only carrying items such as rocks and gravel, according to KVUE.
No injuries have been reported in this latest derailment. The cause of the incident is currently unknown.
South San Marcos Street was closed through Monday morning until parts of the train could be moved following the derailment.
Another recent derailment resulted in a disaster in East Palestine, Ohio, drawing national headlines as the fire and toxic chemical spill resulted in massive loss of animal life and sickness in nearby residents, as previously reported by The Dallas Express. Officials said this derailment occurred due to an overheating failure in a wheel before the crash.
Days after the Ohio derailment, another occurred in Texas. The Splendora Police Department announced a collision between an 18-wheeler and a train that resulted in a derailment in the morning hours of February 14. When officers arrived at the site, the driver of the 18-wheeler had already died.
Officials determined that there was no threat to public safety but closed off roads to clear debris and conduct repairs.
Jason Millsaps, executive director of the Montgomery County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, said it was not clear whether the 18-wheeler had been stuck on the tracks when it was struck or if the driver had failed to yield to the train, according to the Houston Chronicle.
