Detached rail car damages road

Published 7:20 pm Friday, June 7, 2013

A train that was derailed at the West Fraser plant off Highway 22 in Maplesville Thursday afternoon resulted in no injuries but blocked traffic for nearly five hours and damaged parts of the road.

At about 2:30 p.m., a cable attached to three stationery rail cars full of wood chips snapped, causing the rail cars to roll back far enough for one to roll into the road, tearing up about 4 feet of pavement.

The Maplesville Police Department responded to the incident.

Police Chief Todd Ingram said no other vehicles were involved.

“Nobody was hurt,” Ingram said. “It was good that once it did hit the road, there were no cars coming at that time.”

The southbound lane of Highway 22 was partially blocked until about 7:30 p.m. Thursday.

Ingram said a crane crew from Birmingham lifted the rail car and set it back on the tracks, and the Alabama Department of Transportation was scheduled to assess the road damage Friday and begin repairs shortly thereafter.

Ingram said temporary patches were applied to the holes in the pavement, and the southbound side of Highway 22 is open.

The cost of the crane and repairs to the road could cost West Fraser as much as $60,000, Ingram said.

West Fraser could not be reached for comment Friday.