Train Derailment Damages Track, Dumps 1,500 Gallons of Diesel Fuel

LUGOFF,SC (WOLO)- A train derailment by Kershaw County destroys track, dumps 1,500 gallons of diesel fuel from a locomotive, and causes a amtrak train to become stranded Saturday morning.

Around 1am Lugoff Fire respond to a reported cargo train derailment off US 601 southbound towards Elgin on the CSX rail line. Crews found several cargo train cars derailed including a locomotive, hopper cars, and hazardous material tanker cars.

Officials say a preliminary total of 12 of the 18 total units in the train had derailed including one of the two locomotives. Major damage to the track had also occurred. One of the hopper rail cars derailed and caused damage to the Kenco Storage Warehouse near the CSX rail line.

Lugoff Fire Chief Dennis Ray says cthe derailment caused an amtrak train a mile and a half away to become stranded because it can’t drive through the damaged tracks. Crews will be on scene for the next few days trying to fix the track and clean up the diesel leakage. Officials say their target time to get the tracks finished is Monday.

No injuries have been reported and no hazardous materials are leaking as of 5 AM from the tanker cars being monitored by fire crews. Some diesel fuel was leaking from the derailed locomotive and crews were attempting to contain the leak to the immediate area.

All railroad crossings are open and no traffic issues are reported.

Lugoff Fire-Rescue crews, Columbia Fire Haz-Mat 1, Kershaw County Emergency Management, Kershaw County Sheriff’s Department, Kershaw County Special Operations, and Kershaw County EMS are all on scene.