COLUMBIA, S.C. — Several trains cars derailed in Columbia after a train struck a tree that had fallen on the tracks.
Norfolk Southern officials say around 1 p.m. Friday, the train hit the tree on a set of tracks near the Broad River behind Columbia International University. The collision caused three engines and eight rail cars to leave the tracks.
There were no reported injuries to the Norfolk Southern train crew. Norfolk Southern staff were sent to the site to coordinate cleanup and recovery efforts and to resume normal operations.
The intermodal train was en route from Atlanta to Charleston when the incident occurred.
It's unclear what may have led to the collision, but strong storms that rolled through the area Thursday into Friday toppled multiple trees throughout the city, causing damage to some homes and powerlines.
According to Norfolk Southern, most of the rail cars have been re-railed as of Saturday evening. Cleanup and recovery efforts will continue through the night.
