Train Derailment Stops Traffic for Nearly 2 Hours

Update 6:31 p.m.:
Manatee County Sheriff's Office is reporting that State Road 70 is reopened to traffic in both directions, as of 6:03 p.m.

The Sheriff's Office says it was alerted at 4:10 p.m. that rain had caused a minor train derailment at the 1800 block of State Road 70, about 200 feet south of the highway. 

The derailment cause the railroad crossing arms at the nearest railroad crossing to become stuck.

State Road 70 remained impassable until 6 p.m., until a railroad technician arrived to raise the arms using an electronic control box, the sheriff's office reports.

Traffic was diverted at 15th Street East and U.S. Highway 301 for the duration of the snafu. 

July 5, 2013 at 05:21 pm:
State Road 70 near 18th Street East is closed for traffic headed in both directions at this hour, Manatee County Sheriff's Office reports.

It seems the railroad crossing arms near 18th Street East, just west of U.S. Highway 301, are stuck in the down position because a nearby train is stalled on the tracks due to weather, the sheriff's office reports.

Railroad officials are telling the sheriff's office that the problem should be fixed in the next hour.

No injuries are reported.