Peoria County, IL – Two Illinois men face charges after allegedly causing a train derailment near Bartonville on Monday afternoon.
Authorities identified the suspects as Caleb Finley, 18, and Jimmy Johnson, 20, both from Bartonville. According to the Peoria County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded after the Bartonville Police Department detained the two men. Officials say the suspects allegedly used a device to derail a Union Pacific train near the 100 block of Sanitation Road.
Investigators determined the men intentionally placed the device on the tracks and waited for the train to pass over it. The locomotive’s wheels derailed, leaving the tracks and causing extensive damage estimated at over $80,000. Crews require a crane to return the train to the tracks.
The suspects now face multiple charges, including criminal damage to property, reckless conduct, and placing an object on railroad tracks. Both men were booked into the Peoria County Jail.
Officials confirmed no injuries occurred during the incident. The investigation is ongoing as authorities assess the full extent of the damage.
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