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Coal Train Derails Near Vancouver, Washington

<p>A BNSF train car carrying coal derailed early Wednesday near Vancouver, Washington.</p>

Katie Campbell, KCTS9

A BNSF train car carrying coal derailed early Wednesday near Vancouver, Washington.

A single Burlington Northern Santa Fe train car carrying coal derailed early Wednesday about 5 miles east of Vancouver, Washington.

The train was traveling from Montana to British Columbia, Canada.

Gus Melonas, a spokesperson with BNSF, said the railroad has a team on site that's investigating the cause of the derailment, but so far it has ruled out track failure.

“There’s no spillage, no injuries, no hazmat, no environmental or public threat," Melonas said. "The car is upright. It’s just the end of the car, the wheels are off the track and, again, we’re picking those up, putting those back on the track at this point.”

Melonas said BNSF runs between 35 and 45 trains daily on the Washington side of the Columbia River Gorge. He said the tracks are inspected daily.

There was significant damage to one rail-road crossing that the railroad plans to replace, Melonas said.

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Conrad Wilson is a reporter and producer covering criminal justice and legal affairs for OPB.