Railroad accident

Boxcars loaded with malted barley rested on their sides along tracks near the intersection of South Sprigg and La Cruz streets in Cape Girardeau on Wednesday. At about 5 p.m. Tuesday, a railroad engine pulling 17 cars at 6 mph went around a curve on the tracks, which are owned by the SEMO Regional Port Authority. Somehow, some of the cars' wheels dropped between the rails, which were then pushed apart, port authority executive director Dan Overbey said. Five cars tipped over on their sides, and four more suffered damage to their wheels and remain on the tracks. The barley was being hauled to a barge for export to an overseas brewery.