Thursday, January 24, 2002

TRAIN DERAILMENT NORTH OF SAULT STE. MARIE

Sault Ste. Marie OPP officers are enroute to a train derailment at a very remote location halfway between Searchmont and Batchewana Station.

Sometime early this morning, six cars of a southbound Algoma Central Railway freight train derailed near Mekatina in Desbien Township. This location is about 100 kms north of Sault Ste. Marie

Preliminary information from the scene is indicating that no one has been injured or killed. Of the six cars that have derailed, two of the rail cars are believed to be carrying lumber. Three other cars that derailed are believed to be carrying sulfuric acid. These cars are upright and not leaking. One rail car this is filled with parafin wax has left the tracks and is believed to be partially submerged in a lake or pond. There is no indication from the scene as to whether this car has leaked any material into the water.

There are no winter roads to this area. Access to the scene will be by snow machine, Algoma Central Rai