Vandalism causes 22 rail cars to derail

SULLIVAN, Ind. (WTHI) - Twenty-two railroad cars derailed early Tuesday afternoon. The derailment happened just south of County Road 300 North and just west of County Road 700 East in Sullivan County.

According to Indiana State Police, when the train reached the end of the line, the lead car struck a metal barrier and that caused 22 cars to derail and overturn.

The clean up is expected to cost nearly $1 million and take at least a week.

"Our early investigation is that there is a strong possibility of equipment tampering and we are treating it as a criminal investigation," Chris Rund of the Indiana Rail Road Company said.

Indiana State Police have launched a criminal investigation. The Indiana Rail Road Company is offering a $20,000 reward for the arrest and conviction of the person who is responsible for tampering with the rail cars.

"Tampering with railroad property, trespassing on railroad property is a class D felony punishable up to two years in jail," Sgt. Joe Watts of the Indiana State Police said.

The train was carrying potash and railroad investigators do not believe it poses a danger to the area.

The cars were in long-term storage about 4.5 miles away from Dugger until Tuesday.