Train Derailment Caused 35,000 Gallons of Oil to Spill in Northeastern Montana

Last night, July 16th, around 6:30 p.m., the Roosevelt County Sheriff’s office received a report that a westbound BNSF train had derailed about 5 miles east of Culbertson close to Highway 2 spilling 35,000 gallons of crude oil.

"We shut off the highways for a one mile radius," Roosevelt County Chief Deputy Corey Reum said. "We evacuated all the homes inside of that radius. We waited on hazmat teams and BNSF supervisors to show up. They have been working hand in hand with the Culbertson Fire Department."

People who had to evacuate are able to return back home, but the highway is still blocked off at this time.

"Since then, we've let people go back into their homes," Reum said. "The highway is still blocked off and they are doing their hazmat work now. That's where we are at now."

Nobody has been reported injured. The cause of the derailment is still unknown.