By CHRISTINE BOATWRIGHT / Staff Writer

HARPERSVILLE – A train derailed in the Harpersville area on June 3 around 2:15 p.m., according to Harpersville Police Department scanner traffic.

The derailment occurred off Dead Hollow Road and Rock School Road in Harpersville. Shelby County’s Emergency Management Agency Director Robert Kelly said two of the 10 derailed cars are suspected to have chemicals in them, but the chemicals have yet to be identified.

Residents have been evacuated from their homes in the surrounding area, but should be allowed to return to the area shortly, according to a Shelby County Sheriff’s Office release at 4:15 p.m.

Shelby County Sheriff’s deputies responded to assist the Harpersville Police Department. As of 3:15 p.m., HAZMAT teams from Pelham and Alabaster arrived to inspect the derailment.

As of 4 p.m., the Pelham HAZMAT team reported that all 10 cars are intact and no spillage occurred, said Environmental Supervisor Chad Scroggins of Shelby County EMA. Additionally, the CSX Transportation, the owner of the railway, will assess the situation concerning the derailment.

According to released from the sheriff’s department at 4:15 p.m., local residents should be able to return to the area shortly. Dead Hollow Road and Rock School Road should be avoided until the accident is cleared up.