No injuries in Perry County train derailment Saturday

No one was injured when a train derailed near Tower Rock on Saturday afternoon, Perry County Sheriff Gary Schaaf said.

The northbound Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway train was carrying iron ore pellets from Alabama about 2:20 p.m., when it ran off the rails along the Mississippi River just south of Wittenberg, Mo., Schaaf said.

Twenty-six cars left the tracks, he said.

Crew members aboard the train were not injured. The cause of the incident remained under investigation Sunday.

"Our biggest concerns were injuries and hazardous materials," Schaaf said. "There were no hazardous materials on this train."

Crews were bringing equipment in to clean up the scene Sunday. Schaaf said there was a derailment near the same site several years ago.

BNSF spokesman Andy William said 24 of the cars had overturned.

Pertinent address:

Wittenberg, Mo.