Authorities have been investigating the dying of a rail conductor who was hit by a passing prepare Sunday in Montana, the Nationwide Transportation Security Board stated.
The conductor labored for BNSF Railway, the company stated in a submit on the social media website X. 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 folks 40 miles (64 kilometers) southwest of Billings.
Emergency response officers weren’t positive what occurred apart from that a person was between two trains, stated Nick Jacobs, Columbus Hearth Rescue’s assistant chief. One prepare was parked on one monitor and the opposite prepare was transferring on one other monitor, he stated.
“And the transferring one struck him someway,” Jacobs stated.
The NTSB and Federal Railroad Administration officers have been on the scene, Jacobs stated.
A spokesperson for BNSF stated the corporate was referring all inquiries to the NTSB.
The identification of the deceased was not instantly launched.
A report by the Federal Railroad Administration final yr discovered BNSF was typically striving to enhance security on a constant foundation, however that message didn’t at all times attain front-line employees who usually didn’t really feel comfy reporting security issues for concern of being disciplined.
The company ready the report as a part of an effort to assessment all main railroads to handle security issues after a 2023 Norfolk Southern prepare derailed in East Palestine, Ohio.
