Derailed Train Catches Fire in Princeton, Indiana

A cargo train derailed and caught fire just outside Princeton, Indiana, on June 17, prompting local authorities to order a mandatory evacuation in a one-mile radius and several road closures.

Caleb Carwile said he and his family were driving in the area when they happened upon the crash site. “We suddenly saw a huge ‘mushroom’ cloud of smoke burst up in the air. We pulled over near TBIN and Berry’s Plastic Factory and were able to see this big heap of train cars on fire. We were one of the first people to arrive at the scene.”

Aerial photos taken and posted by an Indiana State Police public information officer on June 18 showed flames and smoke still rising from the pileup. The Gibson County Sheriff’s Department announced the roads reopened at approximately 2:30 pm on June 18. No injuries were reported and the cause of the derailment is yet unknown. Credit: Caleb Carwile via Storyful