RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Richmond fire crews responded to Tredegar Street after a train derailed Tuesday, causing 16 cars of the freight train to go off the track.
No injuries were reported and fire crews did not find any hazards, according to a tweet from the Richmond Fire Department.
First responders were called to the scene around 7 p.m.
The train is a CSX freight train. According to CSX, the train was heading to Rocky Mount, North Carolina.
Of the derailed cars, 12 were carrying paperboard, two contained rock and the three tank cars were empty. In total, the train had 121 loaded and 39 empty cars.
(Photo courtesy: Richmond Fire Department) 
(Photo courtesy: Richmond Fire Department) 
(Photo courtesy: Richmond Fire Department) 
(Photo courtesy: Richmond Fire Department) 
A statement from CSX read, “We appreciate the swift response of Richmond Fire Department. CSX crews are on site to assess the situation and begin recovery efforts. The safety of our employees and the community are our top priority as we work to restore the area.”
It is still unknown what caused the train to derail.
Will Rigsby tells 8News he was walking his dog along the North Bank Trail when the train cars derailed. He says his back was to the train cars when it happened but it sounded like a car crash or something even louder.
It made his dog jump and when he turned around he saw a “bunch of smoke.”
“Chaos. A big wreck…” Rigsby said. “Two of the cars are hanging off the tracks and it’s a mess.”
This is a developing story.
