A CSX coal train derailed Wednesday evening at Van, blocking access to the area. The train derailed between Van and Bandytown, according to officials.

The Coal Valley News has learned that a total of nine loads of coal upended when the train derailed, causing an estimated $13,950 in damages to equipment and $3,000 in damages to the track signal.

No injuries were reported at the time of the incident Wednesday evening and there are still no reports on what caused the train to derail, spilling its load.

The derailment blocked two major roads. Both highway 85 and highway 26 were blocked for several hours following the incident.

CSX crews continued to clean up the spilled coal until nearly 6 a.m. Thursday morning, sending many stranded motorists and residents of the Van and Bandytown areas to seek alternate shelter for the evening.

Coal Valley News’ own Angela Alexander was one such resident who was blocked from her home and family members following the train’s derailment.

Alexander reports that several cars decided to try to find alternate routes to their homes.

“They had evidently tried to go around. But I was told that a train had derailed and both routes were blocked. I stayed at the hotel and had nowhere else to go,” she said

Alexander, was just one resident who was separated from their homes Wednesday evening. For her, though, being separated from her two sons was even harder.

“My one child has medical issues and I kept thinking, what am I to do if something happens? How am I to get him out?” she recalled.

Fortunately, there were no reported fires, crimes, or medical emergencies called in to the Boone County 911 center that evening, though the

derailment effectively cut off all access to emergency services for the residents at Van and Bandytown for more than 10 hours.

Calls made to CSX Corporate headquarters and local offices at Danville requesting details on the cause of Wednesday’s derailment have not been returned.