A freight train carrying hazardous cargo hit a tree on the tracks in Fall River on Monday evening, causing it to derail and its fuel tank carrying thousands of gallons of diesel to puncture and leak, police said.
There were no reported injuries and there is no immediate threat to public safety, Fall River police said in a statement.
Police received a call at 7:29 p.m. reporting a derailed train in the area of North Main and Clark streets, police said.
The Mass Coastal Railroad train is believed to have been traveling south at low speed when it hit a tree that had fallen on the tracks, causing the train to derail but remain upright, police said.
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The train’s fuel tank, which was holding about 18,000 gallons of diesel, was punctured and started to leak, police said. The train’s cargo is still intact, the statement said.
An environmental clean-up company is set to respond to the scene, police said.
“The environmental impact of the spilled diesel fuel is the primary concern at this point,” the statement said.
Crews must empty the fuel tank before they’re able to set the train back on the tracks, police said.
Mass Coastal Railroad representatives are on scene, police said, along with Fall River police and fire officials.
No further information was immediately available.
Breanne Kovatch can be reached at breanne.kovatch@globe.com. Follow her @breannekovatch.