Evacuated residents head back to NW Minn. town after train-tanker crash
Updated: 3:15 p.m. | Posted: 8:28 a.m.
Residents of the northern Minnesota town of Callaway are back home after being evacuated Thursday following a collision between a train and a propane tanker truck.
The truck caught fire and burned for several hours before exploding, but no residents or firefighters were injured, said Callaway Fire Chief Keith Heinlein.
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The greater worry was a large propane storage tank about 200 feet from the burning truck, which was headed for a delivery to the local grain elevator when it was struck by the Canadian Pacific train.
"Definitely could have been worse," Heinlein said. "There was another 30,000 gallon tank I'd say within 200 feet of it with 9,000 gallons of propane. That was definitely a concern."
A locomotive and several empty hopper cars derailed. The train crew was treated at a local hospital and released.
The evacuation order was lifted at 10 a.m. Friday. Canadian Pacific says the track is open and trains are running again. Cleanup will take several days.
Gov. Mark Dayton plans to visit the area Saturday and will meet with Callaway community members, local officials and Canadian Pacific representatives.
The town of about 230 is about 50 miles east of Fargo, N.D.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.