2023 Yellowstone River train derailment

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The Yellowstone River bridge collapse was a train derailment that occurred on June 24, 2023, near Columbus, Montana, United States. A bridge that crosses the Yellowstone River collapsed, causing several cars of a freight train carrying hazardous materials to fall into the water below. The incident resulted in environmental concerns and internet service disruptions in the state.

The bridge was part of the Montana Rail Link (MRL) network, a privately owned regional railroad that operates over 900 miles of track in Montana and Idaho. The train involved in the derailment was carrying hot asphalt and molten sulfur, which are both flammable.^[1] Sulfur is used in phosphate fertilizer production and for direct soil supplement. Hot sulfur burns easily, producing toxic sulfur dioxide. The train crew was safe and no injuries were reported.^{[citation needed]}