Derailment of a Union Pacific freight train led to a brief evacuation and closure of Highway 30 in Chappell Sunday afternoon.
Region 21 Emergency Manager Ron Leal says the call about the derailment of single and double-stacked cargo container cars came in at about 3:15 p.m., with an immediate response by Chappell Fire and the Deuel County Sheriff’s Office.
Robynn Tysver with UP says 35 cars were involved in the incident that took place around 3:00 p.m., with no injuries reported amid a continuing investigation. Side booms, cranes and other heavy equipment are on site, as crews work to clear the scene and repair the tracks.
Leal tells KNEB News that not knowing the contents of the containers piled up just west of the Frenchman Valley Coop elevators, authorities closed the highway in that area and six or seven homes nearby were evacuated for about two hours.
He says additional response during that time included Lodgepole Fire, the Nebraska Hazardous Materials Incident Team and the State Patrol.
Tysver says Union Pacific would like to extend its gratitude to the Chappell Volunteer Fire Department, local and state law enforcement for responding to the derailment.
