Tanker cars burst into flames after 18-wheeler hits train at Central Texas crossing

CAMERON, Texas (KWTX) - Three tanker cars loaded with fuel burst into flames Tuesday morning after an 18-wheeler struck one of the cars at a crossing on FM 2095 about six miles outside of Cameron and the flames were so intense evacuations were ordered.

The truck’s driver evidently swerved to avoid a car that was stopped at the crossing and T-boned the car of the BNSF freight train, authorities said.

The crossing is marked and the arms were functioning at the time of the accident, authorities said.

No one was injured.

The tanker cars will likely be left to burn out, Cameron police Chief Lonnie Gosch told KMIL radio.

Residents nearby were evacuated because of the extreme heat generated by the fire, he said.

The flames spread to a barn and several outbuildings, authorities said.

Homes in the area sustained heat damage they said.

The train was hauling gasoline and coal authorities said.

Some cars at the rear of the train are loaded with what authorities described as hazardous material, but weren’t affected by the collision, which caused about a dozen cars to derail.

One of the chemicals the train was carrying as phosphoric acid, authorities said.

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