(May 28, 2026 – Burke County, North Dakota)
A man was killed on Thursday, May 28, 2026, after the dump truck he was driving was struck by a Burlington Northern Santa Fe train in Burke County, ND. The incident occurred at approximately 4:21 p.m. on 93rd St. NW. between 69th and 70th Ave. NW., on the southern outskirts of Bowbells, ND.
The identity of the involved 72-year-old man from Kenmare, ND, has not been disclosed by authorities. According to a news release from the North Dakota Highway Patrol, the victim was traveling eastbound on 93rd St. NW. in his 1978 Ford dump truck when he was T-boned by a train as he crossed the tracks. Though he was wearing his seat belt, he was fatally injured and pronounced dead at the scene.
Per information BNSF supplied to the Federal Railroad Administration, the crossing where the collision occurred is a public BNSF crossing that sees trains at speeds of up to 25 miles per hour. It is passively marked by signage but is entirely lacking any form of active warning devices, including lights, gates, and bells. The absence of active warnings may burden motorists with maintaining vigilance for oncoming trains while safely maneuvering their vehicle. At this crossing, this additional task may be further complicated by a line of trees and patch of vegetation in the northwest quadrant that may obstruct drivers from seeing oncoming southbound trains.
The North Dakota State Patrol is continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the fatal collision.