Train derailment near Simsboro
Photos courtesy of the Lincoln Parish Sheriff's Office
These captures from drone footage show the scene of an approximately 19-car train derailment on the Canadian Pacific Kansas City rail track east of Simsboro Sunday morning.
Canadian Pacific Kansas City railroad officials are now on the scene of this morning’s train derailment just east of Highway 563 between Simsboro and Grambling.
Lincoln Parish Director of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness Kip Franklin said authorities don’t yet know what caused 19 cars either fully or partially topple off the track around 6:30 a.m.
Authorities have not said what the cars were carrying, but confirmed none are leaking.
Residents in the area are sheltering in place, Franklin said.
“We got lucky. We’re in a really good area. It’s a quarter-mile or better to the closest residence,” Franklin said.
Motorists are advised to stay out of the area.
After a roughly 12-year period with no such incidents, this is now the second train derailment in Lincoln Parish in a little more than a year, the last being a 23-car derailment near Choudrant on Aug. 2, 2023.
This is a developing story. More information will be shared as it becomes available.
