Laurens, S.C.According to WBTV, two young people in Laurens County allegedly stole and crashed a train over the weekend, turning a late-night mischievous deed into a grave crime.
Authorities claim that on the evening of Saturday, August 9, 2025, the children broke into the Carolina Piedmont and CSX Transportation facilities in Laurens. The two successfully started one of the locomotives—a train engine that was coupled to two other engines—once they were inside and started to drive it around the railyard.
From Joyride to Collision
According to investigators, the young people first maneuvered the train around the railyard in Laurens before stepping onto a track that led to Greenville. They eventually tried to move the train back to where it had started, but they ran into an aparked railcar in the process. In addition to causing property damage, the hit damaged the railcar and led to a derailment.
According to the Laurens Police Chief, this was a risky and careless behavior. You can’t play on railroad property. Unauthorized access can have potentially fatal outcomes, and trains, rail lines, and yards pose significant threats.
Charges and Custody
Due to their juvenile status, the two minors’ names and precise ages have not been made public. They are facing several serious charges, such as:
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Burglary
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Grand larceny over $10,000
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Malicious damage to property over $10,000
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Willful destruction of railroad property
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Injury to railroad
The accused were taken to the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice in Columbia after being apprehended.
Location and Context
Approximately midway between Greenville and Columbia, the railyard where the incident took place is located close to downtown Laurens, just off East Main Street. Unauthorized entry to the location, which is a hub for freight operations, poses serious safety hazards to both the participants and railroad workers.
Although this incident was unique, local officials stressed that it serves as a clear reminder of the hazards of interfering with industrial transportation systems, not only because of the possibility of property damage but also because there is a genuine risk of harm or death.
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