COLUMBUS — A railroad worker died after being hit by a train in Columbus on Sunday, October 19, 2025.
According to Columbus Fire Rescue Chief Rich Cowger, emergency crews responded to a report of a collision involving a train and a person around 9:40 a.m. The victim was later confirmed to be a BNSF conductor.
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“Initial call was a train versus an individual," said Columbus Fire Rescue Assistant Chief Nick Jacobs.
BNSF investigators were initially on scene, as were Columbus Police and Stillwater County Sheriff deputies.
The National Transportation Safety Board has taken over the investigation to determine the circumstances that led to the deadly incident.
The accident prompted an hours-long road closure that divided the town near the intersection of East Pike Avenue and South Pratten Street, one of the busiest crossings in the area.
The closure did cause some delays for drivers and emergency services. The highway reaches nearby towns like Absarokee, so motorists were forced to detour through Laurel and Joliet.
“That's the biggest part is we can't get to the south side of the county quick, and they can't get here," said Jacobs. "Hospital services are on the north side, obviously, so that's kind of what our struggles are right now.”
Jacobs reported that there were no medical emergencies during the time the crossings were closed.
Residents like Robert Carlson, who lives on a ranch just outside of town, were caught in the disruption.
"You can see how fast the cars build up here,” said Carlson. “It's unusual, but, you know, where trains are concerned, you never know when there's going to be a problem or accident or collision.”
The train was moved and crossings reopened around 2:30 p.m., allowing traffic to resume.
