Highway 39 is closed in both directions due to the train derailment between Middleley and Macon.
Visibility was reduced to about two kilometers northwest of Macau due to the smoke and fire caused by the train.
A train derailment has reduced visibility to two kilometers northwest of Midley, Sask.
Courtesy of Amber Mentei
Estevan RCMP have not reported any injuries at the scene.
Estevan residents Amber Mentei and her husband said they were driving on Highway 39 just after 9:00 a.m. when they passed the scene.
They were driving to Regina for aggregation when they noticed light gray smoke just past Macon, SK.
“We were thinking more grass fires, nothing serious like a train derailment,” Mentei said. “As we were approaching the turn to Macon, there was a big bang.”
Mantei said he did not hear the explosion, but saw flames shoot 100 feet from the tracks.
“It turned from light gray to black smoke, and it just blew away in the air.”
They reported about 20 derailed trains in ditches on both sides of the tracks near the town of Macon.
“As we went on, the heat through the glass was so intense, it would be like you were standing over a campfire, a campfire went on too long and your skin got dry and hot, it felt like ”
Mantei said that fortunately the presence of snow and only a gentle breeze prevented the fire from spreading too close to the highway or downtown.
RCMP is asking travelers to avoid the area for the time being. Excursions are being organized.
The engine car and two spare cars were separated from the rest of the cars and pulled ahead of the accident.
“The engine was so close to the main crash site,” Mentei said.
The Canadian Pacific Railway is currently on scene investigating. There are no other updates at this time.
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