According to The Oregonian, a Union Pacific oil train traveling through the Columbia River Gorge derailed and caught fire Friday afternoon. Although no injuries were reported, local schools evacuated students and nearby state highways were shut down.
The train originated from North Dakota and was carrying the volatile Bakken crude oil to Washington state. Eleven of the 96-car train derailed almost 70 miles east of Portland, near the town of Mosier, Ore.
SMART TD Washington State Legislative Director Herb Krohn has been briefed on the accident and was dispatched to the scene. Krohn serves on the Transportation Division Rail Safety Task Force.
Click here to see pictures of the derailment from RT news.
Click here to read more from The Oregonian.
SMART Union