April 27 (UPI) — A major interstate highway remained closed Saturday and dozens of properties were under evacuation orders after a freight train derailment in New Mexico, near the state line with Arizona.
The train’s cars were carrying gasoline and propane when it derailed around 11:45 a.m. local time Friday morning.
The accident occurred around 13 miles west of Gallup, N.M., closing Interstate 40 to westbound traffic, the state’s department of transportation confirmed in a Facebook post.
Authorities also said the site is being treated as a hazardous materials response, contributing to the local evacuation orders.
The train was operated by BNSF Railway, according to the Apache County Sheriff’s Office. The Arizona Department of Public Safety later confirmed BNSF’s ownership.
