HOUSTON -- San Jacinto County officials struggled to keep a shifting freight train from falling into the Trinity River after the bridge it sat on collapsed late Thursday night, News2Houston reported.

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Crews Try To Keep Train From Falling Into Trinity River

The bridge, located over the Trinity River, which runs parallel to Highway 59, crumbled Thursday night.

"What has happened is that it looks like the bridge has shifted ... and cars have dropped down," San Jacinto County Sheriff Lacy Rogers said.

No injuries were reported, according to officials.

The collapse caused one of the concrete columns holding the bridge up to tilt; however, a Union Pacific train remained sitting on the bridge.

News2Houston reported one of the railcars spilled pellets used to make plastics into the river. Officials said the material was not hazardous.

"At this time they are going to pump the car out and divers are also coming to check the bridge. Then they are going to start seeing what they can do about moving the cars off the bridge," Rogers said.

Around 3 a.m., the trains shifted on the bridge, officials said. Union Pacific workers stabilized the train shortly thereafter.

Several fire and sheriff's departments and the Department of Public Safety worked through the night to alleviate the weight on the bridge by removing the railcars.

The bridge has been used since the 1920s to carry Union Pacific trains over the Trinity River.

Railroad officials said they are not sure what caused the bridge to collapse and that it could take up until next Wednesday to fix the damage.

The train came from Pine Bluff, Ark. and was headed to Freeport.

Road Condition Information:

• Houston TranStar Real-Time Traffic Map


• Traffic Pulse Real-Time Traffic Map


• Traffic Section


• Houston Transtar


• Texas Dept. of Transportation Web site or call (800) 452-9292


• Harris County Office of Emergency Management Web site