Kansas Highway 177 has reopened to traffic, but the Burlington Northern Santa Fe track over the highway remains closed after a train derailment early Monday.
Chase County Sheriff Richard Dorneker says the highway reopened shortly before noon. The train derailed south of Matfield Green and was approaching the Kansas Highway 177 overpass above the highway, but none of the 21 cars involved were in danger of going over.
Early indications are a microburst, a concentrated area of high wind under a thunderstorm, may have caused the derailment.
No injuries have been reported. Chase County is working with Burlington Northern Santa Fe on the investigation and getting the train back on the tracks.
10:30 am Monday: K-177 may not open until late Monday night after train derailment near Matfield Green
It may be midnight or so before a Burlington Northern Santa Fe rail line opens up to train traffic after a derailment early Monday.
Chase County Sheriff Richard Dorneker says the train derailed south of Matfield Green and was approaching the Kansas Highway 177 overpass above the highway, but none of the 21 cars involved were in danger of going over.
No injuries have been reported. Chase County is working with Burlington Northern Santa Fe on the investigation and getting the train back on the tracks, but early estimates are some 400 feet of rail will need to be replaced. K-177 has been closed as the work continues.
The cause remains under investigation, but Dorneker says early indications point to a microburst, a concentrated area of high wind under a thunderstorm, as a possible cause.
8:45 am Monday: Train derails in southern Chase County
The Chase County Sheriff’s Office says a train has derailed in the south part of the county.
Sheriff Richard Dorneker says the train derailed near Matfield Green. The time of the incident has not been confirmed. Twenty-one cars are currently involved. No injuries have been reported and nearby roads are all open.
Chase County is working with Burlington Northern Santa Fe on the investigation and getting the train back on the tracks.
We’ll keep you updated on KVOE, KVOE.com and KVOE social media.
