Explosions in Wills Point After Train Hits Fuel Tanker

Officials say nobody has been hurt in a fiery wreck when a freight train hit a gasoline tanker truck in East Texas early Thursday.

The Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Department said the collision sparked an explosion along Lybrand Street crossing along Highway 80.

Authorities say the fuel tanker got stuck on the tracks moments before it was hit.

A two-block area around the fiery wreck was evacuated as a precaution.

A spokeswoman for Union Pacific said the conductor and an engineer were on the train hauling containers from Fort Worth to Marion, Ark. No hazardous materials were on board.

Oil Field Theft Suspect Wanted

The Rusk County Sheriff’s Office is asking the public’s help in identifying a suspect wanted in connection with the thefts of batteries from a BP American Production Company oilfield lease on County Road 2145, in Tatum.

On August 11, 2012, at approximately 6pm, an unidentified white male entered onto BP property and took two 12 volt, Optima Gel, Deep Cycle batteries, with “Stolen from BP” branded across the top.  The batteries are valued at approximately $250 each. The suspect was captured on a hidden camera located near the batteries.

Any information may be reported to the Rusk County Crime Stoppers at (903)655-8477 or Rusk County Sheriff’s Office at (903)657-3581.