The CSX Corporation has opened an investigation on a train derailment after several rail cars crashed Sunday evening in North Jacksonville.
Officials with the corporation released a statement that said eight rail cars were involved in the incident and no one was injured. The cause is still unknown.
Action News Jax found several rail cars flipped on their sides along Main Street and Busch Drive, with two rail cars hanging off a bridge that overlooks Cedar Creek. Sky Action News Jax later revealed two more rail cars in the water Monday morning.
“It was loud, you could feel it in our house, our house shook,” Neighbor Cari Morton said. “So I had no idea what it was.”
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Jacksonville Fire Rescue and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene as well. At least three cranes were used to lift some of the cars back on the tracks.
CSX officials said the two rail cars that derailed into the creek were carrying ethanol. Although they reported no indication of leaks, their crews have continued to search and restore the area.
Neighbors along the creek expressed concern for wildlife in light of the possible ethanol leak.
“We do have a lot of fish back there, you can see them jumping, and we have a lot of water fowl that eat out there,” Morton said. “That is my main concern now that I know what it is, I really hope our birds come back.”
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Action News Jax reached out to the Environmental Protection Department to learn if it’s helping with the clean-up and is waiting to hear back.
Two rail cars hanging over the bridge into Cedar Creek in north #Jacksonville. CSX says these two cars were carrying ethanol but there is no indication of leaks at this time. They’re working with JFRD to secure the area. @ActionNewsJax @WOKVNews pic.twitter.com/L3x0ScVGBX
— Elizabeth Pace (@PaceAnJax) January 21, 2019
#Update CSX says about 8 rail cars were derailed and crashed on the northside Sunday night. It appears more have been pulled up and reattached. They said crews will continue to block this area as they make repairs. @ActionNewsJax @WOKVNews pic.twitter.com/CSw8JpTuU6
— Elizabeth Pace (@PaceAnJax) January 21, 2019
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