Video: Route 33 Remains Closed Both Directions Following Train Derailment Near Wheeler

A Canadian National train derailed near Wheeler Tuesday night, spilling corn onto Route 33. The highway remains closed this morning in both directions between Dieterich and Newton.

Dieterich Fire Chief Ross Martin told us via phone that they received a report of a derailment at 9:49 pm Tuesday on Route 33 at 200 East in Jasper County. Eleven of the train's cars left the tracks about a mile west of Wheeler. Some of those cars crashed on the north side of the tracks, spilling their loads of corn onto Route 33, which runs adjacent to the railway. The remainder of the cars went into a field south of the tracks. Chief Martin said, "thank God" none of the rail cars were carrying hazardous materials.

The Illinois Department of Transportation has Route 33 closed at both Dieterich and Newton. Those wanting to go east are being routed north on the Dieterich Blacktop to I-70 and then east to Illinois Route 130, where you can head south to Newton, and vice-versa if you want to head west from Newton. The highway is expected to be closed for the day today. Traffic to rural roads in the area is unaffected.

The engineer and conductor on the train were not injured. A cleanup crew from Canadian National traveled to the scene from St. Louis and arrived early this morning. Chief Martin said the crew hoped to have the site cleaned up within 24 hours.

Dieterich Fire, Jasper County EMS, and the Jasper County Sheriff's Department handled the scene.