Authorities have been investigating the demise of a rail conductor who was hit by a passing practice Sunday in Montana, the Nationwide Transportation Security Board stated.
The conductor labored for BNSF Railway, the company stated in a publish on social media. BNSF Railway operates one of many largest freight railway networks within the U.S.
The incident occurred at about 9:40 a.m. in Columbus, a city of about 2,000 individuals 40 miles southwest of Billings.
Emergency response officers weren’t certain what occurred apart from that a person was between two trains, stated Nick Jacobs, Columbus Fireplace Rescue’s assistant chief. One practice was parked on one observe and the opposite practice was transferring on one other observe, he stated.
“And the transferring one struck him someway,” Jacobs stated.
BNSF investigators have been on scene, in addition to Columbus Police and Stillwater County Sheriff deputies, CBS affiliate KTVQ reported. The NTSB and Federal Railroad Administration officers have been additionally on the scene, Jacobs stated.
Investigators from the Nationwide Transportation Security Board, Columbus police and Stillwater County Sheriff deputies are on the scene of an train-related accident Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025, in Columbus, MT.
Larry Mayer/The Billings Gazette by way of AP
A spokesperson for BNSF stated the corporate was referring all inquiries to the NTSB.
The id of the deceased was not instantly launched.
The accident prompted an hours-long highway closure at one of many busiest crossings within the space, KTVQ reported.
“You may see how briskly the automobiles construct up right here,” close by resident Robert Carlson advised the station. “It is uncommon, however, you realize, the place trains are involved, you by no means know when there’s going to be an issue or accident or collision.”
A report by the Federal Railroad Administration final 12 months discovered BNSF was usually striving to enhance security on a constant foundation, however that message did not at all times attain front-line staff who typically did not really feel comfy reporting security issues for worry of being disciplined.
The company ready the report as a part of an effort to assessment all main railroads to deal with security issues after a Norfolk Southern practice derailed in East Palestine, Ohio in 2023. Final 12 months, Norfolk Southern agreed to pay $600 million in a class-action lawsuit settlement associated to the derailment.