RAVENNA, Ohio — Crews are continuing to clean up the area around South Prospect Street and State Route 44 in Ravenna Township after Tuesday evening's train derailment.
According to a statement from the Portage County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, a Norfolk Southern train transporting rock salt and other materials derailed at approximately 7:11 p.m.
A spokesperson for Norfolk Southern tells 3News that approximately 22 cars out of 237 derailed in the incident. No injuries have been reported. No hazardous materials were released in the derailment.
"I heard a loud bang, and I turned and looked and as a train was going by it looked like a wheel flew up in the air," said Chuck Knight who witnessed the train derailment. "I saw sparks and I took off running to the house to get the gentleman out of the house that lives there."
Bert McEwen has lived in his home for over 30 years, and has never had any issues with the trains. Although his boat was crushed by a rail car, he sees the silver lining, and recognized how his boat could have stopped the train car from going any further.
“I’m just glad we survived it. We were able to survive it. A lot of people said we were lucky. That one that was on the boat, it could’ve took out the garage and the camper and probably part of my house," McEwen told 3News.
Linda Rollyson lives in a neighborhood across the street from the tracks. When she heard the noise, which she described as a rumbling, she thought it might have been thunder. Then, she heard the sirens.
"You start hearing sirens and once it was more than one, I knew it was something big," she says. "No one was hurt and that's remarkable when you really look at that damage."
3News streamed live coverage of the clean-up on Wednesday morning. You can watch in the player below:
There's no word yet on when the clean up process will be completed. Crews continue to work to clear the tracks and make repairs. In the meantime, Amtrak tells 3News that the derailment has caused a service disruption to their Capitol Limited Trains 29 and 30, which are unable to operate between Cleveland and Pittsburgh due to the temporary track closure.
This is a developing story. Stay with 3News for more details as they become available.
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