West Virginia Train Derailment Sends Oil Tanker Into River

Emergency crews and state environmental officials are responding to a train derailment in West Virginia that sent at least one tanker car containing crude oil into the Kanawha River.

Media reports say a CSX train derailed Monday afternoon in Fayette County, which is north of Beckley.

CBS affiliate WOWK reports that dispatchers announced that the towns of Adena Village and Boomer Bottom are being evacuated. Officials said Route 61 is being shut down as a result of the derailment.

Dan Toney told CBS News that he was home when the train derailed and described the explosion as sounding like an "atomic bomb." He said his father was one of the people that rushed to assist.

Public Safety spokesman Lawrence Messina said responders at the scene said the tanker is leaking crude oil into the river.

Messina said at least one and possibly more tanker cars went into the river. He also said the derailment sparked a house fire.