‘They’re stacked up high;’ 911 callers describe aftermath of Springfield train derailment

SPRINGFIELD — Newly released 911 audio calls obtained from News Center 7 describe the moment a Norfolk Southern train derailed in Springfield Saturday afternoon.

>>Springfield train derailment: Clark Co. officials to hold new briefing with updates

“Train derailed all over the road,” one female caller told dispatchers. She described it taking place near the state trooper’s office.

It derailed on State Route 41 at Gateway Boulevard at around 4:45 p.m. Saturday afternoon.

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“I believe the head of the train is so far down, it was well past the head,” she said. “There’s probably a good 20, 30 cars down right now. They’re probably stacked up pretty high. Car depots and just completely derailed.”

The caller said nothing was on fire but there was a smell in the area of the derailment.

“It could be metal rubbing on each other,” she said to dispatchers. “We’re not entirely sure. There’s no smoke emitting from anywhere.”

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Another female caller said “the whole train just went off the tracks completely.”

“It didn’t hit anybody,” she described to dispatchers. “It was close to the (Clark County) fairgrounds.”

One female caller told dispatchers the train “completely fell off.”

“They’re smashed,” she said. “They’re all falling off the tracks.”

The caller did not see any people and dispatchers told the caller to stay far back from the derailment as troopers, firefighters and medics arrived on scene.

>>NTSB to investigate train derailment in Springfield

No injuries were reported following the train derailment.

The cause remains under investigation.

This is a developing story and News Center 7 will continue to update as new information becomes available.

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Crews start cleanup after Norfolk Southern train derails in Springfield (Staff)

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Ohio Cargo Train Derailment Multiple cars of a Norfolk Southern train lie toppled after derailing at a train crossing with Ohio 41 in Clark County, Ohio, Saturday, March 4, 2023. (Bill Lackey/Springfield-News Sun via AP) (Bill Lackey)

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