A Wolf Point teen is dead after being struck by a freight train.
Leslie Kay Keiser, age 16, of Wolf Point, died in an accident with a BNSF train passing through Wolf Point Friday, August 28, 2020.
BNSF Spokesperson Courtney Wallace said a fatal accident was reported on the rail line in Wolf Point, and it was accident was not at a designated rail crossing.
This is the second train death within a week on the reservation.
Darrell Christian, 40, was pronounced dead on arrival after being struck by a BNSF train passing through Poplar Friday, August 21, 2020, Tribal Criminal Investigator Kenny Trottier said.
The accident happened around 4:30 p.m., south of Poplar next to Industrial Park.
Both of these fatalities were not at marked train crossing.
Wallace said the company urges people to stay away from railroad tracks and to only cross at designated crossings. Below are safety tips for being around railroads:
– Freight trains don’t travel at fixed times, and schedules for passenger trains often change. Always expect a train at each highway-rail intersection at any time.
– All train tracks are private property. Never walk on tracks; it’s illegal trespass and highly dangerous. It takes the average freight train traveling at 55 mph more than a mile-the length of 18 football fields-to stop. Trains cannot stop quickly enough to avoid a collision.
– Trains can move in either direction at any time.
– Today’s trains are quieter than ever, producing no telltale “clackety-clack.” Any approaching train is always closer, moving faster, than you think.
– Remember to cross train tracks ONLY at designated pedestrian or roadway crossings, and obey all warning signs and signals posted there.
– Stay alert around railroad tracks. Refrain from texting, headphones or other distractions that would prevent you from hearing an approaching train; never mix rails and recreation.
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