Union Pacific Railroad said two of its employees were killed in a train collision and derailment near the Salton Sea on Thursday.
A company spokesperson said the freight train operated by the two workers collided with equipment sitting on a “siding” — a short track at the side of the main railroad line — around 3 a.m. east of Mecca.
Approximately seven cars derailed.
“Our thoughts are with the employees’ families and coworkers,” the spokesperson said in an email.
Union Pacific is working with the National Transportation Safety Board, which is leading the investigation. The NTSB said it was sending six investigators to Imperial County, where the collision happened just over the line from Riverside County.
