A Union Pacific coal train partially derailed Wednesday at the railroad crossing on Davis Street Ferry Road in East Carondelet, St. Clair County, sending multiple coal cars off the tracks and spilling loads of coal along the right of way. The crossing was shut down as emergency crews and railroad workers rushed in to upright the derailed cars and scoop up the scattered coal. Photos from the scene showed several coal gondolas tipped on their sides, with black mounds of coal piled beside the rails.
According to KSDK, the St. Clair County Emergency Management Agency reported in a Facebook post that 13 coal cars left the tracks and some dumped their payload. KSDK identified the train as a Union Pacific freight and noted that crews worked through the afternoon to move the derailed equipment and reopen the crossing.
County EMA Coordinates Local Response
The St. Clair County Emergency Management Agency is serving as the local lead for incident coordination, handling updates while the cleanup continues. The agency’s public information describes its role as managing preparedness, working with first responders when incidents occur, and maintaining contact lines for road-closure notices and other alerts. Residents were urged to steer clear of Davis Street Ferry Road near the tracks while crews stabilized the site and cleared the crossing.
Cleanup Effort and Traffic Headaches
Davis Street Ferry Road remained closed at the railroad crossing so workers could remove damaged cars and collect spilled coal, according to the reporting. No injuries were reported, and officials said there was no environmental or hazardous materials threat associated with the coal. Union Pacific crews and local responders stayed on scene to secure the area and restore rail traffic, while drivers were forced to detour around the blocked route.
What Comes Next
Railroads are required to report derailments to federal authorities, and the Federal Railroad Administration keeps accident records and can investigate serious incidents when needed. As FRA guidance explains, railroads file formal reports, and those federal documents often become the first detailed public accounting of causes and damages once they are processed. For now, local officials say the priority remains clearing the crossing and getting the road back open to traffic.
