Railroad cars jump tracks, derail in metro-east
Several railroad cars derailed on Terminal Railroad tracks at Monsanto Avenue and Illinois 3 in Sauget shortly before 7 a.m. Thursday.
Sauget Police Chief James Jones said “four to five” cars jumped the track for reasons not yet known. Terminal Railroad officials say the incident is under investigation.
There were no injuries, Jones said.
Illinois State Route 3 was closed while police officials worked to clear the train track, Jones said.
Eric Fields , chief of infrastructure management and real estate development for Terminal Railroad, said the road was closed about an hour. R.J. Corman Railroad Group, a Kentucky-based wrecking company with a location in Fairview Heights, cleared the cars.
“They set the cars out, and clear the crossing so traffic can flow,” said Fields. “Then they send the cars to get fixed.”
Fields said he was not certain what was contained in the derailed cars. He said an investigation is underway.
