A freight train derailed Saturday in North Plains, closing roads to the North Plains Garlic Festival, causing traffic tie-ups and forcing attendees to take detours.
The derailment happened around 12:30 p.m. near Northwest Main and Hillcrest streets, Washington County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Deputy Kendall Hazel told The Oregonian/OregonLive.
Some of the train cars slid sideways and collided with a parked train car, but - no injuries were reported, Hazel said.
Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue responded to the scene, as well as employees from the railroad company, Hazel said.
Tualatin Fire spokesperson Diego De La Rosa said five cars went off the tracks, two of which were grain transports. He said the other three were empty chemical tankers.
A firefighter hazmat team confirmed the chemical tankers were empty before railroad investigators examined them, De La Rosa said.
The derailment cut off the flow of traffic where Main crosses Hillcrest, as well as part of Glencoe Road — making Northeast Gordon Road the only way into the festival, De La Rosa said.
Festival organizer Patti Burns told The Oregonian/OregonLive the festival continued as planned, although the event saw traffic congestion along Gordon. Some people who had parked their cars were unable to get to them without walking the length of the detour, so the festival organized a bus shuttle to speed access.
The cause is under investigation.
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