(Brockton, Montana – July 28, 2020)
A 24-year-old resident of Sidney, MT was killed by an eastbound BNSF freight train at 11:03 AM, MDT last Tuesday morning. The truck driver was driving a 2011 Freightliner semi-trailer truck north across BNSF rails at the unguarded private crossing adjacent to BIA Route 1 near Brockton, MT when the collision occurred.
It is likely the driver, Ashton Gillming, was never aware of the oncoming train. The private crossing is located between Brockton and Fort Kipp, MT, and lacks any form of active warning signals such as flashing lights and gates. BNSF also does not regularly blow its horns at private crossings and it is unknown at this time whether the horn was blown for Mr. Gillming. A daily average of 26 BNSF freight and Amtrak passenger trains cross this railroad crossing at speeds up to 79 mph.
