Thirty-two rail cars and two locomotives for the Canadian Pacific Kansas City railroad derailed on May 6 just south of a farming community in Moreauville, according to Louisiana state troopers.
State police said the train went off the tracks after it hit a tree that had fallen across the line. Some of the derailed cars contained flammable propylene gas and ethylene glycol. Initial reports said there was a chemical leak but that was later refuted and troopers said none of the chemicals leaked out.
The incident shut down La. 1 for several days starting on Tuesday in Avoyelles Parish near Moreauville. The derailment caused school and highway closures and the evacuation of some residents on May 6.
“They’re saying it could be at least seven to 10 (days), but they’re hoping it’ll be sooner than that,” said Master Trooper Casey Wallace, spokesman for State Police about the closure of the highway La. 1.