Houston Residents Evacuated after Derailment

WEST UNIVERSITY PLACE, Texas --

Residents of a West University Place neighborhood were forced out of their homes after a train derailed on Monday, KPRC Local 2 reported.

Houston firefighters said the derailment happened near the intersection of Community Drive near Judson Avenue at about 7:30 p.m.

Several residents were evacuated because of fears that something dangerous may have been on board.

"My husband says he heard something strange, but the trains are often noisy so I guess he didn't think much about it," Vanessa Nagy said. "Then the firefighter knocked on the door and said that we needed to evacuate because there was potentially hazardous material in one of the cars."

Investigators determined that there was nothing harmful in the cars and allowed residents to return to their homes at about 10 p.m.

Union Pacific said seven cars on the train from Colton, Calif., jumped the tracks. Four cars loaded with wheat overturned and three remained upright.

One of the cars slid into the back yard of one of the homes, officials said. Two yards were damaged and Union Pacific officials said the company would pay for the repairs.

Three of the cars were removed by Tuesday morning. Officials said it may take several days to remove the other four because the equipment crews use is getting stuck in the saturated ground.

No injuries were reported.

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