TRAIN DERAILMENT LEADS TO TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF SECTION OF HIGHWAY 203 BETWEEN LAGRANDE AND UNION IN NE OREGON

News Release from Oregon State Police
Posted on FlashAlert: July 10th, 2013 5:54 AM
An early Wednesday morning train derailment of 14 cars along Union Pacific Railroad tracks on the north side of Highway 203 has an eight mile section of the highway closed east of LaGrande in Union County.

On July 10, 2013 at approximately 1:45 a.m., the train derailment occurred along a section of tracks north of Highway 203 near Hot Lake. The tracks run parallel along the east side of the highway. There are no confirmed injuries to anyone on the train and Union Pacific RR officials are at the scene working with Incident Command led by LaGrande Fire Department. Two tankers containing hazardous materials are known to be part of the train derailment and Haz Mat personnel are on scene to evaluate the situation.

Any media representatives that come to the area are asked to contact Incident Command on the north side of the closure at Highway 203 and Pierce Road.

On scene include personnel from LaGrande Fire Department, Island City Fire Department, Union County Sheriff's Office, Oregon State Police, ODOT, Union Pacific Railroad, and a Haz Mat regional team from Hermiston.

Traffic updates are available on ODOT's website www.TripCheck.com. Area travelers are asked to use alternative routes around the incident area. No other information and photographs for release at this time.

### www.oregon.gov/OSP ###