FERRYVILLE, Wis. (WMTV) - A train has derailed on the bluff side of the Mississippi River near De Soto, railroad company BNSF confirms Thursday.
BNSF General Director Public Affairs Lena Kent stated that the train derailed around 12:15 pm. near De Soto, which is about 30 miles south of La Crosse. Kent explained that two of the three locomotives and an unknown number of cars derailed. The train was pulling “freight of all kinds.”
The main track is blocked in both directions and there is no estimate on when the track will be reopened, Kent said. One person received a medical evaluation and crew members are accounted for.
Kent noted that local first responders were on site and BNSF personnel are also on the way. The cause of the derailment is under investigation.
U.S. Rep Derrick Van Orden released a statement on the reported train derailment in Ferryville, saying his team was told that the incident happened south of the Lansing Bridge.
“We have begun to coordinate with BNSF, FEMA, Wisconsin Emergency Management, the state and national Departments of Transportation, Crawford County officials, and Congresswoman Ashley Hinson (IA-2), whose District may also be impacted, to get answers on what occurred,” Van Orden said.
Van Orden is on the House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and said U.S. Rep. Troy Nehls (TX-22), who is the chair of the Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Rail, has also made his staff available to assist.
An updated alert around 12:15 p.m. from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation noted all lanes of WIS 82 eastbound at WIS 35 northbound and southbound was blocked in both directions near Ferryville. The alert said the road closures was “due to an incident.”
WisDOT provided an alternate route for motorists:
SB - East on WIS 82 to south on WIS 27 to WIS 35. NB - East on WIS 171 to north on WIS 27 to west on WIS 82.
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