TOWN OF LOWELL, Wis. — A train carrying crude oil derailed in the Town of Lowell Friday afternoon.
Over 30 cars of a Canadian Pacific Railway train went off the tracks at 2:05 p.m. on Aug. 15, spilling oil between Maiden Lane Rd. and the Village of Reeseville.
According to Clyman-Lowell-Reeseville (CLR) Fire Chief Eric Howlett, the spilled oil is contained to the derailed cars and none has leaked outside the area of the train tracks.
“There’s two or three [cars] that were actually punctured from when the tracks punctured through them, and multiple cars are laying on their sides that are leaking from the top of the car,” Howlett said during a press conference.
Dodge County Sheriff’s Office said no one was hurt and there is no immediate danger, but asks the public to avoid the area.
“Anybody who is found on those tracks could be cited or arrested for trespassing,” Sheriff Dale Schmidt said. “Even if there wasn’t a derailment, you can’t be walking on or near railroad tracks.”
It’s unclear exactly how much oil leaked. CLR hazmat crews are working with Canadian Pacific Railway to clean up the scene and set up air quality monitors around the area.
The train had a total of 95 cars and was not carrying any other substances. The sheriff’s office did not issue an evacuation because only one resident lives in the area, who chose to voluntarily leave while emergency responders work.
The set of train tracks that connects Minnesota and Milwaukee is shared with Amtrak, and Sheriff Schmidt said several passenger trains are stalled.
Another Canadian Pacific train derailed near Reeseville at the same section of tracks two years ago.
“We need to make sure that this doesn’t happen again,” said Sheriff Schmidt. “They need to take some steps to either the reduce speed limit or change some of the below-grade design.”