Freight train cars derail in Panhandle

Friday, April 22nd 2005, 6:15 am

By: News On 6

TYRONE, Okla. (AP) -- More than 40 cars of a freight train carrying chemicals, paint and fireworks derailed near this Oklahoma Panhandle community, knocking down power lines and requiring traffic to be diverted around the site, authorities said early Friday.

Tyrone police and firefighters were called to the scene about a mile east of Tyrone about 8:19 PM, officials said. The two engineers on board weren't hurt and there were no reports of other injuries.

The Union Pacific train was headed toward Liberal, Kansas, when it left the tracks at the intersection with a Texas County road, authorities said.

Union Pacific officials arrived later and found that chemicals, including oxides, paint and fireworks, were in the cars.

There were no other vehicles involved, officials said.

A cause of the accident wasn't immediately known.