Astoria, OR – A railroad trestle near Avery Park in Corvallis collapsed on Saturday afternoon, sending two freight cars off the tracks, one of which fell into the Marys River. The incident, which occurred shortly after noon, did not result in any injuries.
The train, operated by Portland and Western Railroad, was transporting agricultural materials when the trestle gave way. One of the freight cars plunged into the river, while another was partially submerged. Emergency crews were quick to respond, deploying containment booms to filter any potentially leaked materials from the wreckage.
Corvallis Police reported that no passengers were aboard the train, as the trestle primarily supports local freight traffic operating at low speeds. The railroad structure, located just south of downtown Corvallis, is not used by passenger trains.
Authorities are investigating the cause of the collapse, and recovery operations are underway to safely remove the derailed cars. The situation remains under close monitoring to ensure that any environmental impacts are mitigated promptly.
The collapse is a reminder of the vulnerability of aging infrastructure and the critical importance of maintaining safety standards for transportation systems.
