A pedestrian was killed after being struck by a train at about 1:23 a.m. Saturday near 14th Avenue and Quincy Street in Minneapolis, and officials say what led up to the collision remains under investigation. No one aboard the train was hurt in the crash.
What Happened at the Crossing
According to FOX 9, the train struck the individual at the crossing in the overnight hours, and the pedestrian was killed. Burlington Northern Santa Fe officials reported that the incident occurred in Minneapolis, and said there were no injuries to the train crew. The crossing is equipped with gates, lights and bells, and BNSF officials said all of them were operational at the time.
Beyond those details, authorities have not released further information. What led up to the incident is under investigation, the station's report notes, and no additional findings have been made public.
A Recurring Risk on Minnesota's Rail Lines
Incidents like this one are not isolated. Just the night before, a pedestrian was hit and killed by a METRO Green Line train in St. Paul, according to CBS News Minnesota, citing Metro Transit police. That pedestrian died at the scene despite lifesaving measures by first responders, and police said no one else was hurt, with the investigation still ongoing.
Minnesota has more than 4,000 railroad grade crossings statewide, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation. The agency reports the state currently records about 36 crossing crashes a year, including roughly five fatalities. In 2020, the state recorded just one such fatality, which officials said was the first time in more than a decade that there had been only one.
Why Stopping Distance Matters
Part of what makes these crossings so dangerous is physics: a fully loaded freight train traveling 50 mph needs about 1.5 miles to come to a complete stop, per the state transportation department. Nationally, highway-rail grade crossing accidents are considered the second leading cause of rail-related deaths in the United States, with more than 2,000 incidents and roughly 200 fatalities occurring at crossings each year, according to the Federal Railroad Administration.
State guidance is also clear about the legal rules governing these crossings: drivers must yield the right-of-way to trains, and anyone without permission to be on railroad property is considered trespassing, even if no no-trespassing sign is posted, the Minnesota Department of Transportation says.
No further details about the Minneapolis victim or the circumstances of the crash had been released as of Saturday. Authorities have indicated the investigation into what led up to the incident is continuing.
