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Train derails in east Texas

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A train is partly submerged in the Sulphur River along the Texas-Arkansas border on Sunday  

OMAHA, Texas (CNN) -- A Union Pacific train derailed Sunday, spilling 10 cars into the Sulphur River.

The westbound 71-car train was carrying primarily tar, roofing granules and other materials when 20 of the cars jumped the track 50 miles west of Texarkana -- located on the border of Texas and Arkansas -- said John Bromley, director of public affairs for the railroad. Typically, two engineers are aboard the train, he said. No one was injured.

The accident occurred at 4:45 a.m., he said. Its cause is under investigation.

It was not clear whether the cars that fell into the river from a railroad bridge were leaking, said Dave Hall, emergency management coordinator for Bowie County.

The river, nine feet above flood stage, feeds into Lake Wright Patman, which provides drinking water to Texarkana and smaller towns.

The site of the wreck is a remote one, "about two miles from civilization," said Hall. As a result, investigators were inspecting the crash scene from helicopters and have set up a command post two miles away.

The train originated in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and was headed for Dallas.



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