Train derails, no one injured

David Lincicome finished watching a movie early Wednesday morning and was about to head to bed at his home in New Unionville, Ind. Then, he heard a boom.

“It definitely didn’t sound like a normal train coming through,” Lincicome said.

The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office received the first call at 1:43 a.m.

Officers arrived to find a derailed train in the 6100 block of Indiana State Road 45 in New Unionville, Ind., about 15 minutes northeast of Bloomington.

Fourteen of the 101 cars on the train, which were carrying coal, derailed. No injuries were reported.  

“We knew it was a mess just from the sound of it,” Lincicome said.

Michael Pershing, chief deputy for the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, said the Indiana Railroad Company is investigating the incident because the derailment occurred on its right-of-way.

Eric Powell, manager of economic development for the Indiana Railroad Company, said the preliminary cause of the derailment is mechanical failure of a wheel bearing.

Pershing said a portion of East Indiana 45 was closed while Duke Energy replaced fallen power lines.

Surrounding roads were also closed as a result of the derailment.  

Justin Landon, spokesman for Duke Energy, said 157 customers lost power as a result of the derailment.  

Landon said four power poles were damaged as a result, and power had been restored by 3:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Powell said crews are working to remove the cars and repair the tracks. He estimated the tracks would be reopened by Thursday afternoon.

Powell said about six trains travel on the tracks each day.

“This is like Grand Central Station,” Lincicome said.

Follow reporter Matt Stefanski on Twitter @stefanskimatt.