Wilmar employee injured as cane-train derails near Victoria Mill
A Wilmar Sugar employee has been injured after a cane-train derailment in North Queensland. PHOTOS>>
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A Wilmar Sugar employee has been injured after a cane-train derailment in North Queensland.
The cane-train locomotive towing dozens of fully laden cane bins derailed and rolled on its side at Victoria Plantation on Four Mile Road about 11am.
In addition, 13 of the bins filled to the brim with freshly harvested sugar cane had also left the tracks with a number also rolling.
Wilmar Sugar and Renewables confirmed that a train driver had suffered minor injuries and been transported to Ingham Hospital by Queensland Ambulance Service,
Two driver assistants were assessed for injuries but released from hospital.
Queensland Ambulance Service had earlier said that it was assessing three patients.
Wilmar said QAS transported the driver to Ingham Hospital in a stable condition.
The sugar company, Australia’s largest, transported the driver assistants to hospital for assessment.
All patients were listed as stable at the time.
A Wilmar spokeswoman said its employees were managing the site of the incident.
“We’re providing support to three employees involved in a cane train derailment on Four Mile Road near Victoria Mill at Ingham about 11am today,” a Wilmar Sugar and Renewables spokeswoman said.
“The driver was transported by ambulance to the Ingham Hospital to be treated for a minor injury.
“The two driver assistants were not injured, but were also taken to hospital for assessment and observation.”
The spokesperson said its immediate focus was on “the safety and well-being of our people, and on providing them with appropriate support”.
“We are also working to clear the incident site, where Loco 20 and eight full cane bins derailed,” she said.
“At this stage we expect to have the site cleared and the line reopened by lunchtime tomorrow.”
The Wilmar spokeswoman said the incident would impact its milling operations as the derailment happened on the main sugar line between Victoria Mill and the Port of Lucinda.
“This means production will pause when the factory’s raw sugar bin is full,” she said.
“We have asked harvesting operators to stop cutting, following the incident.”
The spokesperson said there had been limited harvesting taking place in the Herbert region on Monday due to wet weather.
“We have launched an investigation into the cause of the derailment.”
A Queensland Fire Department crew was also on scene.
More to come.
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Originally published as Wilmar employee injured as cane-train derails near Victoria Mill
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