LE SUEUR, Minn. — Crews are on the scene of a train derailment that triggered a small diesel fuel spill and fire early Friday near Le Sueur.
Union Pacific spokesperson Kristin South says it happened just before 5 a.m. on a track that runs between Ottawa Avenue and the Minnesota River. She reports that a southbound locomotive and approximately 12 rail cars left the tracks. Diesel fuel from the locomotive spilled and caught fire. Crews responded and decided to let the fire burn itself out.
As of 8 a.m. they reported the fire was under control.
While there is no indication any of the spilled diesel has made its way into the nearby river, an absorbent boom is now in the water as a precaution.
Train crew members were taken to the hospital following the derailment but no serious injuries were reported.
At this time investigators are trying to determine the cause of the derailment.