Coal train derails in Sikeston

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad employees worked through Tuesday night to clear the damage from a train derailment that occurred Tuesday afternoon.

At 4:49 p.m., the derailment of a southbound coal train en route to the Sikeston Power Plant was reported to the Sikeston Department of Public Safety.

Six cargo cars were affected in the derailment -- one was completely on its side, another was tilting, while two cars were completely off the track and two were partially off the track, said Capt. Ken Dicus of DPS.

"The derailment occurred just north of the Northwest [Street] crossing," said Dicus.

A stretch of Wakefield Avenue between Davis Boulevard and Northwest Street was closed for a short time, but reopened around 7 p.m. Tuesday, according to Dicus. Northwest Street remained closed until just after 9:30 p.m. near the crossing as railroad employees worked to clean up the mess.

Also closed for the time being are the north-south rails.

Dicus said there were no injuries, and the damage was confined to the railroad tracks and cars.

The cause of the derailment was undetermined as of Tuesday night.

Pertinent address:

Northwest Street, Sikeston, MO