Chaos briefly ensued in North Plains yesterday afternoon when a train derailed, obstructing roads and disrupting the city's beloved Elephant Garlic Festival. According to KPTV, the incident occurred shortly before 12:30 p.m., involving a Portland & Western Railroad train near Main Street, just south of Northwest Hillcrest Street. A spokesperson for the railroad reported that six cars were involved in the derailment, two loaded with grain and four empty.
While the festival celebrated garlic, the Washington County Sheriff's Office confirmed that several train cars slid sideways, striking a parked train car, inadvertently becoming the day's unexpected centerpiece. No injuries were reported, as KATU detailed, ensuring that the festivities could continue with the only casualty being convenience.
The derailment prompted immediate action from Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue, who arrived around 1:30 p.m. to find the derailed cars and begin stabilization efforts. There was some initial concern regarding hazardous materials due to the oil-style tankers with placards on site, but TVF&R, as reported by KGW, stated that no hazardous materials had spilled and confirmed that the oil tankers involved were empty at the time of the crash.
Despite the festival's interruption, roads that were blocked by the north and south intersections, were reopened by Saturday evening, ensured by the Washington County Sheriff's Office. "There is some grain that has spilled out and there are some oil-style tankers with placards that are involved, but no fluids are leaking," a spokesperson told KATU, providing much-needed reassurance to the attendees, who had been eager to partake in the garlic-y goodness. The Elephant Garlic Festival, with all its pungent glory, carried on amidst the day's unexpected events.
