Train Derailment Near Hoxie Kills 2, Leads To Evacuations

From our content partner KAIT Ch. 8:

Two people are dead and two others were injured after two freight trains collided early Sunday morning south of Hoxie. For a time, nearly 300 residents were forced to evacuate their homes after the wreckage caught fire.

Police say a few train cars were carrying hazardous materials, but it’s not known what was on board. Arkansas State Police say some of the wreckage is still burning, however, it is not burning near any of the toxic cargo.

Several roads and highways were closed in Lawrence County as a safeguard in the wake of the accident.

The trains collided sometime around 2:30 a.m. Sunday. Police began evacuations sometime around 3:30 a.m.

Details on the accident have not been released. Officials with The National Transportation Safety Board have taken over the investigation.

Read more on this developing story from KAIT Ch. 8 at this link.