Thursday, August 30, 2012

A rail car disconnected from a freight train, rolled across a bridge spanning the U.S.-Canadian border in western New York and sat near a Canadian railroad station for nearly half a day before security personnel checked it out.

The Niagara Gazette of Niagara Falls, N.Y., reports that CSX officials believe someone intentionally disconnected the empty car at the company's rail yard early on the morning of Aug. 12.

The car rolled about 2 miles to a railroad bridge over the Niagara River, crossed into Canada and went another few hundred feet before stopping near the Via Rail station in Niagara Falls, Ontario.

It wasn't until about 11 hours later that agents with the Canada Border Services Agency noticed.

Canadian officials say they're investigating the 11-hour gap.