24 train cars derail in Wilson Creek

WILSON CREEK — A westbound Burlington Northern Santa Fe train derailed when entering Wilson Creek at roughly 9:20 a.m. Saturday.

Twenty-four cars came off the track, piling up near the grain elevators, according to Grant County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Ken Jones.

The train was moving 38 mph in a 45 mph zone, according to Burlington Northern Director of Public Affairs Gus Melonas.

The train was transporting corn from Florence, Minn., to Seattle. Melonas said. There were no chemicals in any of the cars involved in the crash.

"It is 24 cars in a pile of rubble," Jones said.

The train engineer reported to authorities he knew something was wrong and attempted to stop the train when it derailed.

"There might have been a mechanical issue with a wheel," Jones said. "There may have been some smoke."

Melonas said the company will conduct an investigation into the cause of the wreck.

The train knocked down a power line, but did not create any damage to any parked vehicles or buildings in town, nor block city traffic, Jones said.

"It was very fortunate nothing else was impacted," he said.

Burlington Northern officials arrived within an hour of the wreck and began surveying the scene. Melonas said 50 workers are clearing the tracks and are expected to finish by Sunday afternoon.

About 20 trains use the tracks daily to move freight between Spokane and Seattle, Melonas said.

"It’s rare, extremely rare," Melonas said of the derailing. "We are always making improvements … and training to prevent these (types of) things from happening."

The company does not have an estimate of the costs of the derailment.

More pictures will be printed in the Columbia Basin Herald on Monday.