By Meagan Barnes

Special to the News-Herald

A CSX train traveling through International Paper’s Franklin mill derailed at 9:15 a.m. Tuesday, causing 12 cars to topple onto a train on an adjacent track.

“There [were] no injuries or environmental hazards,” Lt. Tommy Potter from the Isle of Wight County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement released soon after the accident. “We are working with CSX on what was in the cars.”

Potter later stressed that there were no health or environmental hazards, adding that all affected train cars were still intact and that a plan for cleanup had been put into motion.

“International Paper has a response plan for incidents such as this,” he stated in an afternoon press release. “The Isle of Wight Sheriff’s Office, as well as the Isle of Wight Department of Emergency Management, regularly meet with IP officials to review this plan. International Paper has activated their response plan and is working to support CSX in the cleanup of this incident.”

Mechanic, South High and South Main streets in downtown Franklin were all temporarily closed where they intersect with the CSX line. Mechanic and South High streets had been reopened by 3:30 p.m., the Franklin Police Department stated in an afternoon update, which also noted that all detours had been cleared.

“International Paper works with local emergency response agencies to prepare for and assist with situations like this,” company spokeswoman Jenny Railey said. “We are working with CSX as they develop their path forward.”