Cargo train derails in east Jackson
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JACKSON, Tenn. – A scene some residents describe as rare, as an afternoon freight train derails and leaves a big mess on an east Jackson roadway. Hundreds of thousands of pounds of corn were piled along James Buchanan Drive after two freight cars fell on their sides. Traffic can now pass through the area but there is still a lot of work to be done to get things cleared up “We just need to get it cleaned up, so the people can be safe out here,” resident Virginia Hurd said. “Hopefully they get that done as soon as they possibly can.” Residents said they heard the moment the train ran off the tracks “It was a loud noise, a boom,” Mcewen Bond said. “So we ran to the neighbors and then we saw the train leaning over.” Officials with West Tennessee Railroad said the 30 car train was traveling at a low rate of speed before it ran over a broken switch which caused the train to jump the tracks. “Never have I seen this,” Hurd said. “I’ve been in this community for 60 years and this is the first time.” With trains traveling in this area all the time residents said they are just happy things were not worse. “I’m glad no one was through here and no one got hurt,” Hurd said. West Tennessee Railroad said the clean-up will really begin Thursday morning. They are going to bring in some heavy machinery to re-rail the cars and also fix some of the track that were damaged during the derailment.
