CHARLTON COUNTY, Ga. — Three CSX crew members were taken to the hospital after a train crash and derailment in Folkston, Georgia on Monday, according to a CSX spokesperson.
Around 1:24 p.m. Monday, a CSX intermodal train crashed into a standing rock train in Folkston.
Initial reports indicate that two locomotives, two intermodal and two rock cars derailed after the crash. A small fire ignited after the crash but was extinguished.
The incident appears to have occurred just north of an overpass in Folkston.
"We appreciate the swift response of local first responders. CSX has deployed resources to assess the situation, remove the equipment and restore the area," CSX said in a statement to First Coast News.
The crew members' injuries were non-life-threatening, CSX confirmed.
No hazardous materials were on any of the trains involved.
The Charlton County Sheriff's Office responded to the scene of the crash.
Charlton County Sheriff Robert Phillips, said the area where this incident happened in called Folkston Funnel and over 50 trains pass through here daily.
"This is what’s called the Folkston funnel. All the trains, 52 trains per day come through here very seldom have anything like this," said Phillips.
According to Phillips, emergency and fire crews were able to put a small fire out.
"Our volunteer fire fighters and EMS got here instantly and got the fire put out and they do a wonderful job," he said, "the fire department is going to be on standby at the site of the fire near the engine throughout the night while their moving things in and out."
Willie Williams lives right next to the tracks and heard the collision from his house.
"Well I was in the house, and I heard the 'bam,'" said Williams, "I didn’t know it was a collision until I came out here and went down there and came up and went up there and it was terrible."
The cause of the incident is under investigation.
