A Union Pacific crew of three is reportedly being treated for injuries that they received this morning after their southbound train collided with an eastbound Norfolk Southern train at Control Point (CP-) Pence in Momence, Illinois.

According to news and first-hand accounts, the collision occurred at approximately 07:45 CDT this morning and resulted in more than forty cars being derailed between the NS and UP trains, along with an undetermined number of locomotives on the Union Pacific train. The UP train is said to have impacted the NS train somewhere 'in the middle of the train'.

A total of three employees were injured to an unknown extent, all three reported to be Union Pacific employees. None of the Norfolk Southern crew was injured.

Following the collision, emergency crews evacuated a two-block area around the derailment site when they found a tank car leaking denatured alcohol. The leak had been contained by noon, but residents downwind of the derailment site were kept away from their homes as an added precaution.

The collision is located on the same diamond crossing that a 1999 collision occurred between trains owned by Conrail and Union Pacific.

Norfolk Southern's east-west route across the diamond is moderate density, while the joint CSX Transportation/Union Pacific Railroad route is high density. No estimates are available for clean-up, but initial survey of the damage indicates it may take at least a day or more to clear the wreckage.

The wreckage involves a Norfolk Southern C40-9W 9443, an unidentified CN Rail SD40-2, and a destroyed Guilford Rail System (MEC) GP40 345, as well as at least one more unidentified locomotive.

National Transportation Safety Board investigators, along with the Federal Railroad Administration are expected to conduct an investigation of this incident. This is the second incident being so investigated in as many days in the Chicago area. Metra's collision with multiple vehicles yesterday launched the first investigation yesterday afternoon.