LA PORTE, Ind. -- Two Norfolk Southern freight trains collided at
La Porte, Ind., early Sunday morning, injuring four crew members and
derailing 25 cars, according to Trains.com.
Westbound train
19A, with two locomotives and 125 cars, en route from Pittsburgh to
Chicago, was struck head-on by eastbound train X2G, hauling steel
from Burns Harbor to Elkhart, Ind., and consisting of two
locomotives and 148 cars. The collision occurred at 2:29 a.m. at
CP-463, an interlocking on NS’s former Conrail main line between
Cleveland and Chicago.
The westbound train had begun to
cross over from Track 2 to Track 1 when it was struck by the
oncoming eastbound, reported the South Bend Post Tribune. The impact
derailed train X2G’s two locomotives and 25 cars from both trains. A
small amount of diesel fuel leaked, but was contained. Derailed
boxcars blocked grade crossings near the accident scene and damaged
two buildings adjacent to the right of way.
Each train was
occupied by two crew members. Three employees were treated and
released; the fourth was hospitalized with a concussion, reported
the News Dispatch.
Amtrak passengers on the westbound
Capitol Limited and Lake Shore Limited were bused from South Bend,
Ind., to Chicago on Sunday morning.
NS returned one track to
service on Sunday afternoon, and returned the second one to service
early Monday morning.
The cause of the crash is under
investigation.