One freight train rear-ended another Friday afternoon , sending debris into a passing third train , authorities in Porter County , Indiana , said . Firefighters put out flames among the jumble of derailed cars . Two crew members on the train that struck the back of the other suffered non-life threatening injuries , officials told CNN . CSX said it appeared there were no significant leaks or spills of hazardous materials , `` but inspections of all loaded and empty hazardous materials cars are under way , '' it said in a statement . The three-train accident occurred about 1:15 p.m. Friday about 11 miles northeast of Valparaiso , said David James of the county 's highway department . The first train , with two engines and 77 cars , was stopped on the westbound tracks , said Sgt . Larry LaFlower of the Porter County Sheriff 's Department . CSX said it was investigating why the first train was stopped . A second train , with two engines and 60 cars , hit it from behind , LaFlower told CNN . The third train , with 48 cars , was moving on a parallel track . `` It struck the wreckage and derailed itself , '' the sheriff 's spokesman said . He did know which direction that train was moving in . James said he did not know what speeds the trains may have been traveling . `` The trains carried a wide variety of freight , including three rail cars of flammable products , '' CSX said in a statement . `` Also in the incident are a number of empty hazardous materials cars . '' The train struck from behind was carrying empty ethanol tankers , according to LaFlower . The county 's hazardous materials team was on the scene , and residents of about 50 homes were evacuated , authorities said . CSX said it was assisting officials with the evacuation . James said the stretch of railroad was in an agricultural section of the county . `` It 's been like a spring day here , '' he said of weather conditions . CSX said it was still determining the total number of derailed cars . The accident occurred near county roads 550 East and 600 North . The National Transportation Safety Board arrived later Friday and was leading the investigation .
It says there appears to have been no significant leaks or damage . One train rear - ended another , causing it to jackknife , authorities said . Two injuries are reported . About 100 nearby residents are evacuated as a precaution .