Two CSX trains collided and derailed early Wednesday in Marion County, causing 20 cars to overturn and a fuel leak of up to 15,000 gallons, officials said.
The head-on collision was reported about 4:15 a.m. at a train crossing on 175th Street at NE 23rd in Citra, just north of Ocala.
Two locomotive operators were on each the train at the time of the crash, one crew member was treated for injuries, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office said.
CSX said a train transporting non-hazardous phosphate rock collided with another CSX train that was loaded with coal.
Diesel fuel was released from at least one locomotive, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office said. CSX environmental experts are on scene assessing and containing any possible product releases.
The phosphate train was traveling from Mulberry, Florida, to Chicago, with three locomotives and 100 loaded phosphate cars, CSX said. The coal train was traveling from Pembroke, Kentucky, to Tampa, with three locomotives and 110 loaded cars of coal, officials said.
Video from News 6 helicopter Sky 6 and photos released by Marion County Fire Rescue show several mangled train cars piled up.
“Please avoid Pine Church Road/2500 NE 175th Street as the road has been blocked off by a portion of the train,” the Marion County Sheriff’s Office said. “Please plan your travels accordingly.”
The sheriff’s office encouraged residents to use Highway 318 as an alternate route so crews can access the other roads to bring in heavy equipment to be used in the cleanup effort.
As of 2 p.m. Wednesday, the rail cars not affected by the derailment had been removed, deputies said.
CSX is working to move all the rail cars and clear Pine Church Road for traffic, according to the sheriff’s office.
The cause of the collision is under investigation.