MORRISTOWN, Ind. --
A CSX train derailed into the Blue River in Morristown on Wednesday, knocking several freight cars off track, officials said.
The derailment happened just before 6:30 p.m. on a trestle near U.S. 52.
Morristown fire chief Steven Davis said the train's conductor said he noticed a bent rail on the trestle which is believed to have been a factor in the derailment.
"The (conductor) stated that as he was crossing the bridge over Blue River, he saw a bent rail and applied the brakes," Davis said.
Jacob Carlton witnessed the derailment, which he said happened right behind a trucking company, 6News' Ericka Flye reported.
"We were back there working on a semi right beside the tracks. A train came rolling by, just regular and normal and all, then everything started shaking real bad and banging real loud," Carlton said.
Chad Abernathy also witnessed the train go off its tracks and was jolted from his feet.
"Train goes by, next thing you know it's in the river," Abernathy said. "It felt like a bomb, I don't know. I've never heard one go off, but it was like the loudest thing I've ever heard."
Skycam 6 flew over the derailment, where several train cars toppled into the Blue River.
"Cars started topping off, water was splashing everywhere," Abernathy said.
About 16 cars behind the locomotives derailed. The impact also took out the bridge, officials said.
HAZMAT crews were called out to the scene because of the chemicals inside the cars that landed in the water but didn't spill.
"Tank cars that contained residual denatured alcohol, we haven't confirmed if any of those are leaking or not," Davis said. "We've set two boons across Blue River to potentially trap any contaminants or HAZMAT that may be on the river."
CSX officials said they would be investigating if there was any contamination and what caused the bent rail.
There were no injuries reported.
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