BONNERS FERRY, ID — The Boundary County Sheriff's Office in Idaho is investigating a trail derailment after the engine went into the Kootenai River with train personnel trapped inside.
The derailment happened around 8:45 p.m. on Wednsday in a remote area 10 miles east of Bonners Ferry, Idaho on the main line, KREM TV in Spokane reports. Two crew members were inside and have been rescued according to a spokesperson from BNSF railway. No one was injured.
The Boundary County Emergency Management Office reports that the lead engine was only accessible by water and the rescue crews were able to reach the engine and safely retrieve the train operators from the top of the engine. None of the train operators were injured in the derailment.
The lead engine is currently leaking diesel fuel into the Kootenai River and containment booms have been spread across the river in multiple places. No other hazardous materials are leaking from the train cars.
BNSF has hazmat cleanup crews responding from multiple locations who will be taking over containment and cleanup when they arrive. Three locomotives have been derailed. It has been confirmed by a BNSF railway spokesperson that the engine is in the river. The train was carrying mixed freight.
-information from KREM TV included in this report.
