LA GRANDE — A Union Pacific train derailed Wednesday, March 15, in downtown La Grande, according to Aaron Hunt, a spokesperson for Union Pacific Railroad.

The derailment occurred at about 7:30 a.m. and involved five cars, none of which were carrying hazardous materials. All of the cars remained standing after the incident.

“All of the cars derailed upright,” Hunt said.

There were no leaks or spills associated with the derailment, Hunt said, and nobody was hurt during the derailment, which occurred near the intersection of Jefferson Avenue and Hemlock Street, according to Daryl Bjoraas of Union Pacific.

Union Pacific sent a team to investigate the derailment and put the train back on the tracks, La Grande City Manager Robert Strope said.

Hunt said Union Pacific will be the lead investigator of the derailment, the cause of which is not yet known.

The five derailed cars were part of an eastbound train that had originated in Portland.

Several railroad crossings through La Grande’s downtown corridor are currently closed and may remain that way for an extended period of time.

“Please avoid the area and allow extra travel time to reach your destination,” a press release from Union Pacific Railroad said. “Union Pacific Railroad is working to address the situation as quickly as possible in order to allow for train passage and to open the crossings.”

The city of La Grande Public Works Department blocked off the areas where Cherry, Fir and Greenwood streets cross the railroad tracks after the derailment. Signs diverting traffic were put up about a block away from the north and south sides of the railroad tracks at these points. This is because there are traffic separators at these sites.

Kyle Carpenter, La Grande Public Works director, said detour signs were put up to prevent motorists who are unaware of the derailment from waiting in their car for the train to move. He said because of the separators at the crossings, if more than one motorist drove up to the tracks, the front driver would be boxed in.

La Grande Mayor Justin Rock said he is thankful for the quick response of everyone involved. He was informced of the derailment this morning through the city.

“All of our people did a great job notifying everyone quickly and handling an emergency,” he said.

Not the first time

This is the first derailment in Union County since 2013 when 27 cars and one locomotive derailed near Hot Lake Springs on Highway 203. In that incident, approximately 100 gallons of diesel spilled. While there were no hazardous spills found and no injuries were reported, about a dozen or so nearby residences and people staying at Eagles Hot Lake RV Park and Hot Lake Springs hotel were evacuated.

Also, in 2015, 10 cars jumped the tracks in a narrow canyon in the Blue Mountains where the tracks run on an embankment overlooking Meacham Creek in Umatilla County.

One car was carrying residual liquefied petroleum gas, and another was loaded with approximately 20,000 gallons of a compound used to make glues and sealants. No hazardous materials were leaked.

That derailment happened 2.5 miles northeast of Meacham, away from homes. The land surrounding the railroad’s right-of-way is owned by a ranching corporation.