Yesterday afternoon, a train derailment in Columbia, Tennessee, prompted road closures and precautionary evacuations, with no injuries reported. According to WSMV4, the incident happened at around 11:33 a.m. and involved several automotive and a propane tanker rail cars. A timely response from Columbia Fire & Rescue and other emergency agencies ensured no hazardous material leaks occurred.
As reported by WKRN, Columbia Fire & Rescue Chief Chris Cummins said a unified command was established to handle the situation, emphasizing a "slow, methodical approach" to the cleanup. Trotwood Avenue and roads surrounding the 1000 block area have been shut down, confirmed by WKRN. They detailed an evacuation of Columbia Academy, warning car rider parents to pick up their children quickly.
Officials have pinpointed a switching rail malfunction as the apparent cause of the derailment, Cummins disclosed. The derailment largely affected the area near Elm Street and Trotwood Avenue, as per the update from WSMV4, and the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency indicated that the train cars were primarily empty at the time of the incident.
Along with the school, local businesses such as Columbia Taekwondo were also advised by the police to evacuate, "We will also be closed for classes this afternoon out of an abundance of caution and because there is no current timeframe as to when it will be fixed," the business informed, covered by WKRN. With the area still off-limits, officials planned to reassess the scene by evening and aimed to reopen it by early Wednesday morning, as NewsChannel5 reported.
Rep. Andy Ogles expressed concerns about the derailment, calling for prayers, while Columbia Mayor Chaz Molder reiterated the absence of injuries and the presence of safety measures.
