Our latest coverage by Kelsey Gibbs at 4:45pm
A train derailment in Columbia prompted evacuations and road closures Tuesday afternoon, though no injuries were reported.
The derailment occurred under the rail bridge along the 1100 block of Trotwood Avenue just before 11:30am.
Several automotive and tanker rail cars were involved in the incident, which shut down roads and forced evacuations at a nearby school.
Emergency officials say they're taking a slow, careful approach to the cleanup. Fire Chief Chris Cummins said multiple agencies — including Columbia Fire and Police, state emergency management, and CSX — are working together under a unified command to stabilize the scene.
"The scene is stabilized, and no leaks of any hazardous materials currently going on. So we are developing a plan to set the propane tanker back up on what's called its trucks. It's just sitting off the trucks. It's not flipped over, just kind of derailed and sitting off the track," Cummins said.
The fire chief confirmed that a propane tanker was among the derailed cars, but no hazardous materials have leaked.
The tanker contains only residual pressure with very little propane remaining.
"We're mainly just concerned with the one propane tank that is kind of just sitting off of its trucks. Once we get it back on the rail, we'll move it out of the way, and the area will be open back up cause the other cars involved are empty cars that carry automobiles. And they are empty, so there's no hazards there," Cummins said.
"The propane tanker it just got residual pressure in it, so very little amount of propane still left in it," he said.
Crews will remain on scene for several hours as they work to safely upright the derailed tanker. Trotwood Avenue remains closed, and crews expect to spend most of the night getting the railcar back on its wheels and clearing the area.
Officials plan to reassess the scene around 6pm and hope to have the area fully reopened by early Wednesday morning.
Update around 3pm:
The Columbia Police Department is asking for the public to avoid the area of W. 7th Street and Trotwood Avenue between Blackburn Lane and Academy Lane due to a train derailment.
You're asked to seek alternative routes at this time.
Columbia Academy has been evacuated as a precaution. All on-campus after-school events are canceled for the day.
You should be advised that the campus cannot be approached from downtown on either West 7th St. or Trotwood.
The Spring Hill campus will continue school as normal with a normal dismissal time.
This is breaking news and will be updated as we learn more.
Do you have more information about this story? You can email me at kelly.broderick@newschannel5.com.
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