Vandals in Taylorville caused tens of thousands of damage to a passing train and nearly caused a potentially catastrophic derailment Thursday night, according to Taylorville Police.
Around 10:15, a train conductor told police unknown teenagers had been seen placing heavy metal tie plates on train tracks near the city's ball diamonds on South Webster Street. An engineer told police his train had slowed because of another nearby train when it hit the plates.
Had the train been traveling its normal 50 miles per hour, it would have likely derailed, the engineer told police. Authorities added the train had been carrying hazardous materials, which would have made a derailment potentially catastrophic.
Police are asking anyone with information on the vandalism to call Taylorville Police at 217-824-2211.
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