Authorities say three train operators were killed when their freight train derailed in southern New Mexico's Grant County and plunged down a ravine.

State Police Sgt. Oscar Sosa says the three men were inside the locomotive when the crash occurred Saturday.

Sosa tells the Las Cruces Sun-News that the locomotive was pulling eight cars near Bayard _ about 75 miles (120 kilometers) northwest of Las Cruces _ when it went off the tracks and down a 40- to 50-foot (12- to 15-meter) ravine. The cars derailed moments later.

The train was operated by Southwestern Railroad and was carrying a form of iron that is not hazardous, according to operations manager for railroad Chris Grimes.

The paper says the cause of the accident hadn't been determined.

A state police spokesman did not immediately respond to Associated Press calls for additional comment.

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Information from: Las Cruces Sun-News, http://www.lcsun-news.com