Over 100 homes in the Town of Slinger had to be evacuated Sunday night, after two freight trains collided and thousands of gallons of diesel fuel was spilled.
The crash occurred near an intersection of rail lines owned by the Wisconsin and Southern and Canadian National railroads. Fire officials say three engines and ten cars jumped the tracks, while about 5,000 gallons of diesel fuel spilled from one of the engines. Two people suffered non-life threatening injuries.
Slinger Fire Chief Rick Hanke says their biggest concern was the spilled fuel from the train. No other chemicals or hazardous materials have been reported on the trains. Firefighters and hazardous materials specialists from six fire departments and the railroad are at the scene, where three locomotives and several cars are off the rails.
Residents from about 100 home in a one square mile area to the south and east of the crash site were asked to evacuate as a precaution. The Kettle Moraine Middle School was set up as an emergency shelter for those that have nowhere else to stay.