Train Derailment in Douglasville Shuts Down Roads

DOUGLASVILLE, Ga. -- An oveight train derailment shut down several roads in Douglasville on Tuesday moing.

The incident occurred just after 1 a.m., Douglasville police said.

Resident George Miller had just started his routine newspaper route with his grandson when they were startled by the loud commotion.

”I heard two real loud clacks. I tued around to look and heard two loud clacks again," Miller told Channel 2’s Kerry Kavanaugh. "We tued around and the train was dead stopped, just that quick."

News Chopper 2 flew over the scene, where crumpled box cars lay toppled like toy trains. Eleven train cars were off of the tracks.

The mess affected about five blocks along Bankhead Highway between Campbellton Street and Rose Avenue.

Miller said he called 911 and officers arrived. Police diverted traffic in the center of Douglasville while crews still worked to clear the scene into moing rush hour. Norfolk Southe Railway officials said they were waiting on cranes from Chattanooga, Tenn. to arrive.

City officials said the derailment had a major affect because 44 trains pass through the major railway on a typical day. They said those trains faced a 150-mile detour in light of the incident.
 
Despite the road closures, police said it could have been worse. The train derailed between a couple of very large embankments, which absorbed much of the blow, police said.

City officials said they hoped to complete the clean up in 14 hours.