The Boundary County Sheriff's Office in Idaho is investigating a trail derailment after the engine went into the Kootenai River with train personnel trapped inside.
The derailment happened around 8:45 p.m. on Wednesday in a remote area about 10 miles east of Bonners Ferry, Idaho, on the main line, according to TV station KREM in Spokane, Washington. Two crew members were inside and have been rescued, according to a spokesperson from BNSF Railway. No one was injured.
The Boundary County Emergency Management Office reports that the lead engine was only accessible by water and the rescue crews were able to reach the engine and safely retrieve the train operators from the top of the engine. None of the train operators were injured in the derailment.
The lead engine is currently leaking diesel fuel into the Kootenai River and containment booms have been spread across the river in multiple places. No other hazardous materials are leaking from the train cars.
BNSF has hazmat cleanup crews responding from multiple locations who will be taking over containment and cleanup when they arrive. Three locomotives have been derailed. It has been confirmed by a BNSF railway spokesperson that the engine is in the river. The train was carrying mixed freight.
Boundary County Emergency Management, BNSF, ISP, Boundary CSO/EMS/Fire are on scene of a train derailment in the area of Crossport just east of Bonners Ferry. Be aware that local roads in the area may be congested or intermittently closed as crews work to remove the engines. pic.twitter.com/Z1iwdGVByk
— Idaho State Police (@ispdistrict1) January 2, 2020
