This is a breaking news story that will be updated as more details become available.
FERRYVILLE, Wis. (WXOW) – Four injured people were taken from the scene of a derailment along the Wisconsin side of the Mississippi River between De Soto and Ferryville Thursday afternoon.
The four had non-life-threatening injuries according to Tri-State Ambulance. They left the scene by ground.
Two of those were alert and conscious when they left according to Crawford Co. Emergency Management’s Marc Myhre.
The incident happened around 12:15 p.m. Myhre said the train was carrying batteries and paint. He said there isn’t any danger to the public.
Emergency crews from multiple departments and agencies including fire departments from Ferryville and De Soto, the Wisconsin DNR, and Crawford County Hazmat team are on the water to deploy booms to contain any spills from either the engines or railcars.
Myhre said he believed that approximately 20 cars derailed. Two cars that were linked together did end up floating downriver of the derailment. Crews were in the process of recovering the containers.
As crews work, Myhre asked that people avoid the area. Highway 35 is closed with traffic detoured around the highway south of De Soto and north of Ferryville.
Video shared by Carrie Nolan shows a number of cars in the water.
Other viewer photos show at least one car floating in the Mississippi River.
Authorities have suggested the following detour route: Alternate Route: SB – East on WIS 82 to south on WIS 27 to WIS 35. NB – East on WIS 171 to north on WIS 27 to west on WIS 82.
This is a breaking news story that will be updated as more details become available.
