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County DES reports no injuries, no danger, Amtrak expects delays of up to two hours
Contents of rail cars lie scattered next to the tracks about 8 miles east of Havre Friday evening after 11 cars from a freight train derailed.
Equipment works to clear the area where freight cars derailed east of Havre Friday.
Damage to the track can be seen Friday on the rail line east of Havre where cars from a freight train derailed.
Editor's note: This version was updated at 9:50 a.m. to add comment from Amtrak.
A freight train derailed outside of Havre Friday afternoon, about three miles east of Pork Chop Hill, but there appear to be no injuries or fatalities, and the cause is still under investigation as the rail line awaits reopening.
BNSF General Director of Public Affairs Lena Kent said the derailment occurred at 4:39 p.m. Friday with 11 cars derailing.
Hill County Disaster and Emergency Services Coordinator Amanda Frickel said 25 cars were involved, all of them freight.
Frickel said one car contained paint thinner, a hazardous material, but it remained sealed with no evidence of any leaking.
A BNSF hazmat team was on site Friday to ensure safety, she said, but there is no immediate danger, though she did request caution from drivers going though the area.
An Amtrak spokesperson said their line is expected to be open by 1 p.m. today. Empire Builder Train 7 will be delayed by about 40 minutes and will arrive in Havre around 3:54 p.m. and Empire Builder Train 8 will be two hours late, arriving at approximately 3:05 p.m.
Overturned cars with metal shipping containers, many twisted or broken open by the force of the crash spilling their contents across the grass could be seen scattered along the south side of the railroad tracks Friday evening as train wheels littered the area next to the nearby Highway 2.
There are no estimates on the damage yet, but Frickel said she was just glad no one was hurt.
"At this point it's just a matter of baby carrots and White Claw (on the ground)," Frickel said, " ... I'm just glad it wasn't a passenger train."
Crews worked through the night to get the cars cleaned up and the rails repaired.
Cranes from Patrick Construction could be seen clearing debris Friday evening as Montana Highway Patrol and local law enforcement helped to direct traffic and ensure safety on the scene.
Frickel said there is no guarantee but the hope is to have the line open again by the end of the day today.
Amtrak had not responded by the time this story was filed this morning to queries on how the derailment would impact the passenger rail service.
Kent said the cause of the accident remains unknown at this point, but is under investigation.
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