Train collides with tanker in NW Minnesota; town evacuated

Emergency personnel respond to an incident.
Emergency personnel respond to an incident at a railroad crossing in Callaway, Minn., Thursday, March 24, 2016.
Courtesy of Minnesota State Patrol

Updated 2:50 p.m. | Posted 1:46 p.m.

Authorities are evacuating a small town in northwestern Minnesota after a freight train collided with a tanker truck that caught on fire.

Sgt. Jesse Grabow with the Minnesota State Patrol says the crash happened around 12:25 p.m. Thursday in Callaway.

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Grabow says crews are trying to put out the burning tanker. He says the town of about 230 is being evacuated as a precaution. Callaway is located 15 miles north of Detroit Lakes.

The collision apparently happened at a railroad crossing. Grabow says some train cars derailed in the crash. The derailed cars were empty hopper cars, commonly used for hauling grain.

The train crew did sustain some injuries, according to Canadian Pacific Railroad spokesperson Andy Cummings.

The Becker County Sheriff's Office says it has no information about injuries to the truck driver.

MPR News reporter Dan Gunderson contributed to this report.