Train Derails Near Hartford, Spills Diesel, Injures Three

On June 30, a Wisconsin & Southern Railroad freight train derailed in Hartford, Wisconsin, overturning three engines and 19 cars, and spilling several thousand gallons of diesel fuel. Three crew members sustained minor injuries and were hospitalized, but no evacuations were ordered and local businesses remained unaffected. Emergency response included Hartford Fire and Rescue, seven other departments, and private contractors, who quickly contained the spill and prevented major contamination of nearby waterways, though some diesel may have entered a marshland. A cracked nitrous oxide tank was discovered but did not leak, and most other railcars were carrying nonhazardous materials such as lumber and dry goods. Cleanup and remediation efforts progressed rapidly under the supervision of state environmental officials. The cause of the derailment is still under investigation.