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Derailment sends cars into river
Authorities are moving carefully around this morning's train derailment near Dresbach, Minnesota, across the Mississippi River from Onalaska. As many as 40 cars are off the tracks after two engines collided early this morning.
Winona County Sheriff Dave Brand says there is immediate concern: "it's a propane tank that we believe is leaking, it has a strong odor. That is set on the ground and heats up the switchbox and we believe that thousand-gallon tank was hit and ruptured."
Brand says they think some of the rail cars went into the Mississippi River. There are no apparent injuries and area highways including I-90 are free-flowing after the incident.
Emergency Management Deputy Director Joyce Tlougan says it happened about 5:30 this morning near Interstate 90 and the Mississippi River's Lock and Dam 5. She says there have been no injuries or road closures. There is a small diesel leak but officials won't know the full extent of the damage for a few hours.
Filed Under: Fires/Accidents/Disasters