HOXIE, Ark. (KTHV) -- Here's a breakdown of what we know as of late Sunday night about the train collision in Hoxie that killed two and injured two others:
- Two Union Pacific trains collided around 3 a.m. Sunday in Hoxie, Arkansas, about 90 miles from Memphis and 25 miles from Jonesboro. An investigator with NTSB said the crash involved a train with two locomotives and 86 cars, and another with two locomotives and 92 cars.
- Investigator Michael Hiller said the first train was northbound on a single main track, when a southbound train collided with it. He said they were on the same track.
- Jeff DeGraff with Union Pacific said Monday engineer Chance Gober of White Hall and conductor Broderick Hayes of McKinney, Texas were killed. He also said engineer Michael Zompakos of Maumelle and conductor Aaron Jeffery of Conway were injured.
- Between the two, the trains were reportedly carrying household products and a type of alcohol. The toxic chemicals were unharmed. *See aerial photos of the scene: http://on.kthv.com/1p46fke
- As a precaution, the Hoxie Fire Department evacuated all residents within a mile and a half of the crash to the Walnut Ridge Community Center.
- All evacuations were lifted around noon, and residents returned home.
- The cause of the accident has not been determined.
- Union Pacific's largest locomotive maintenance facility is in North Little Rock. They have 1,300 miles of track in this state with 2,800 employees, according to the railroad's website.
See the full story with more photos and video:http://on.kthv.com/VwCXhN
(Source: The Associated Press and Arkansas State Police)
