A Union Pacific train carrying crude oil derailed and caught fire outside Portland, Oregon, on Friday, forcing the closure of an interstate highway and evacuation of a school in the first rail accident involving crude in a year. Union Pacific Corp, which owns the line, said 11 rail cars from a 96-car train carrying Bakken crude oil derailed just west of Mosier, Oregon. It said oil was released from at least one rail car, which was burning. It said there were no injuries. It was unclear who was shipping the product. Black smoke and flames could be seen after the accident in the tiny city of Mosier along the Columbia River. As emergency responders descended on the crash site, Interstate 84 was closed and students were evacuated from the nearby Mosier Community School. Television footage showed several cars perpendicular to the tracks, Reuters reported.
