Provo Utah USA - A rail car carrying 100 percent ethanol tumbled off tracks in south Provo Tuesday afternoon, pulling two other tanker cars with it.
 
The accident occurred alongside Bullock Lane, several hundred yards northwest of the intersection with Colorado Avenue.
 
Provo Deputy Fire Chief Gary Jolley said the three cars derailed sometime before 13:42 as they were moving at a slow speed.
 
"The momentum kind of rolled it over," Jolley said.
 
"It's upside down."
 
The tanker cars were part of a long train carrying military vehicles and other hazardous chemicals, though Jolley said there were no leaks from either the derailed cars or the rest of the train.
 
"It's a tank within a tank designed to withstand an impact," Jolley explained.
 
The derailed cars also pulled a flatbed car onto its side, though it did not completely leave the tracks.
 
The flatbed car was carrying heavy-duty military vehicles and was visible to passersby on 1860 South.
 
Authorities had not identified the cause of the accident by late Tuesday afternoon.
 
However, Jolley speculated that there may have been some sort of failure on the rail lines that led to the accident.
 
Authorities with Utah Railway and Union Pacific had not yet returned calls early Tuesday evening.
 
According to Jolley, rail authorities would likely have to bring in some sort of crane to clean up the wreckage.
 
They also would likely off-load the ethanol into containers, he added.
 
Jolley did not know how much the damage might cost, but estimated that it would take six to seven hours to clean up.
 
He did not have information about the destination or owners of the train.
 
By 15:45 a Provo fire truck remained on the scene, its ladder reaching over the derailed cars.
 
The first car to derail had rolled off its wheels, while other parts of the wreck remained attached to the rest of the train.
 
Only feet away, a gray horse grazed on new spring grass.
 
Author unknown.