No injuries reported as bridge collapses under train in Oregon

CORVALLIS, Ore. — A bridge collapsed under a Portland & Western train crossing Mary’s River in Corvallis today (Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025), sending at least one car into the river.

KPTV-TV reports the incident occurred around noon PT near Avery Park in Corvallis. A Portland & Western representative told the station a 19-car train was crossing the bridge when the incident occurred; no injuries were reported.

Images on the KEZI-TV website show at least one covered hopper fully in the water, while another has one end in the river and a third was left hanging over one end of the bridge. KPTV reports that the car in the water was carrying urea — a chemical compound most commonly used as fertilizer. Corvallis police are recommending that the public stays out of the river until further notice because of the possibility the substance entered the water. Urea, highly soluble in water, can cause eye, skin, and respiratory irritation.

Corvallis is about 40 miles north of Eugene, Ore., and about 83 miles south-southwest of downtown Portland. The Portland & Western, a Genesee & Wyoming Railroad, operates about 478 miles of trackage, including trackage rights.