PATERSON, N.J. — Several cars of a freight train derailed Tuesday evening, and there was damage to at least one building near the tracks, authorities said.

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The derailment occurred at about 9:15 p.m. along East 18th Street in the city.

Broadcast reports said five cars of a 40-car New York, Susquehanna & Western Railway train left the tracks.

Initial reports indicated one or more of the rail cars may have struck a building housing a car wash.

It was not immediately clear if there were injuries or what type of cargo the train was carrying.

Fire and emergency units were at the scene and utility crews were called in to check on a possible gas leak.

Messages left with the Cooperstown, N.Y.-based railroad company Tuesday night were not immediately returned. The freight railroad operates over more than 400 miles of track in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.