MOREAUVILLE, La. (KLFY) — A train has derailed in Avoyelles Parish, causing a major highway to be shut down, authorities said.

According to State Police, troopers and Avoyelles Parish Sheriff’s Deputies were on the scene of a train derailment on La. 1 in Moreauville earlier today.

As a result, La. 1 was closed to vehicular traffic. The detour route was La. 114 to La. 451, officials said. Motorists are advised to expect delays when traveling in that area.

“We had a train derailment of four locomotives, 30 cars. As for now, we know that we had a diesel spill but no hazardous material spill.” Beryl Holmes, Mayor of Moreauville said.

Holmes expressed that it came as a surprise to her.

“Any time we have anything like that, it’s a surprise, ” Holmes said. “And I’m not sure if it ever happened in the past, but under my administration, this is the very first time and yes, of course, it was a surprise because there were a lot of changes for our residents.”

Holmes said first responders knocked door to door informing residents of the evacuation. Joey Franks, the director of the Louisiana Emergency Preparedness Office said they had approximately 30 people at the Moreauville community center.

“There’s about five or six residents that are on Highway one that cannot return yet everybody else can return to their residence and go back to normal living.” Franks said. “We just have some work to do on up-righting the train and doing things like that but hopefully that’ll be done within a couple of days.”

For more information, residents to follow the local radio station, Facebook pages, the town’s website, call the town hall phone at 985-2338 or call the local police department at 985-52126.

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