Authorities are trying to determine the cause of a freight train derailment in northern Arizona that heavily damaged 23 cars and a load of new vehicles.
Coconino County Emergency Management officials said the derailment occurred around 11:20 p.m. Wednesday east of Williams, which is 33 miles (53 kilometers) west of Flagstaff.
They said the BNSF train cars were carrying a variety of new cars, vans and truck.
This image provided by the Coconino County Emergency Management shows a freight train derailment, Wednesday, June 7, 2023 east of Williams, Ariz. (Coconino County Emergency Management )
Photos from the derailment scene showed heavy damage to many vehicles and freight cars, white vans poking out of other damaged rail cars and an upside-down vehicle crushed under another freight car.
County Emergency Management officials said cleanup was already underway Thursday morning.
There was no immediate word from Texas-based BNSF Railway about the derailment.
There have been a rash of train derailments across the country in recent months, deepening concerns about rail safety in the U.S.
