Emergency crews and environmental monitoring teams are on the scene in Laurens County after a multi-car CSX train derailment near Lake Greenwood early Monday morning.
First responders were called to the scene near Cross Hill and Whitten Road around 5:20 a.m. after 17 train cars were derailed. CSX crews are working to clear the derailment.
No injuries or hazardous spills have been reported. According to Greenwood County officials, an environmental cleanup firm is on-site and confirmed that all derailed railcars were empty. The firm will remain in the area throughout the cleanup process to monitor environmental conditions.
Also, the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) is directing boat traffic around the lower train trestle on Lake Greenwood. As of 10 a.m. only one of the elevated openings beneath the train trestle is open for boat passage.
According to Laurens County, all residents located on the south side of the train tracks that run perpendicular to Whitten Road will be unable to travel on Whitten Road until the scene is clear. The county also said that many residents in the area may have received a "Shelter in Place" alert. The alert was not released as a result of an immediate threat to safety but to inform residents that an incident has occurred and leaving the area is not possible at this time. However, emergency personal can reach residents if an issue arises.
County officials are asking the public to avoid the area while cleanup operations continue.
CSX and environmental crews expect to remain on-site throughout the day to remove the derailed equipment and inspect the track.
This is an evolving story.
